Punjab University Treasurer Repatriation Raises Eyebrows
Lahore, May 19: The Governor's Secretariat has expressed concerns over Services & General Administration Department's alleged unilateral decision of repatriating the services of Punjab University (PU) Treasurer before the expiry of his three-year deputation tenure.
It has also asked the Punjab government and the PU vice-chancellor to examine the matter and submit a summary in this regard.
According to a document available with The News, the Governor's Secretariat contested that the appointment of Amjad Saleemi, a BS-19 officer of Provincial Treasury and Accounts Service as PU Treasurer was made on approval of competent authority i.e Governor/Chancellor while Service & General Administration Department (S&GAD) Punjab unilaterally repatriated the services of the said official before expiry of his tenure allegedly without approval of the competent authority.
Political analysts as well as some PU teachers see the recent development as part of ongoing confrontation between Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Governor Salman Taseer.
It is pertinent to mention that, in recent past, the Punjab government had cried foul over various appointments at public sector universities by the governor/chancellor and expressed strong concerns maintaining that advice of the CM was not sought in different cases of appointment.
As per the document, the Governor's Secretariat has also expressed concern over the PU vice-chancellor's act of relieving the treasurer and assigning the charge of the office to Dr Uzma Ikram, Additional Treasurer, without the approval of the governor/chancellor.
It reads "Section 18 of the University of the Punjab Act, 1973 provides that the Treasurer shall be a whole time officer of the university and shall be appointed by the chancellor on such terms and conditions as the chancellor may determine. Accordingly, the powers to appoint and transfer the treasurer vest with the governor/ chancellor. Therefore, orders regarding repatriation of services of Amjad Saleemi, issued by S&GAD, before completion of his tenure of deputation, his reliving by the PU vice Chancellor and assigning the charge of the post of Treasurer to Additional Treasurer, without approval of the governor/chancellor/competent authority are not covered under the law."
Amjad Saleemi, a BS-19 officer of Provincial Treasury and Accounts Service, was posted as Treasurer in the Punjab University on deputation basis for a period of three years vide S&GAD's notification No.SOEI-1-14/ 2006 (C) dated 11.08.2008 with the approval of the Governor/Chancellor (competent authority) with the approval of the Governor/Chancellor (competent authority) vide letter No. GS (UNIV) 2-11/2001-519 dated 24.06.2008.
Sources in the Punjab University said the treasurer was repatriated under mysterious circumstances and the move had raised many eyebrows within the varsity circles.
They said PU VC Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran had recently formed a number of committees to probe into alleged financial irregularities in connection with construction of IT Centre at New Campus, civil works at the Department of Space Science and provision of sports facilities at the university.
They added a heated debate was on among the faculty members and varsity officials that the repatriation of the Treasurer might be linked to these initiatives of the vice-chancellor. When contacted, a PU official claimed that, as per the terms and conditions of the Treasurer's appointment, the Punjab government reserved the right to withdraw/ transfer him at any time without assigning any reason. He said the university had already submitted reply to the GovernorÃs Secretariat in this regard.
He also confirmed that the probe was being conducted into alleged financial irregularities, adding the responsibility was yet to be fixed. He claimed that terms and conditions were determined by the Punjab government.
Well informed sources in the Punjab Higher Education Department said that even when S&GAD wanted to repatriate the services it was binding on the department to seek approval of the governor/chancellor.
Interestingly according to the Section 18 of the University of the Punjab Act, 1973 terms and conditions of appointment of Treasurer are determined by the chancellor/governor.
The News could not reach Secretary (Services) S&GAD Jalal Sikandar Sultan for comments despite several attempts on his cell phone. This correspondent also visited his office on Tuesday, left a message for him and later sent him an SMS but the public servantà did not bother to contact and talk the issue over.
