Moalims

LAHORE:
The federal and the provincial governments have come up with separate proposals to resolve the legal status of Bahauddin Zakariya University’s (BZU) Lahore campus.

Earlier this year, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) had declared the campus illegal. On October 29, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had arrested former BZU vice chancellor Khawaja Alqama and sub-campus director Hamza Munir. Students and teachers from the campus had protested against the arrests on November 2.

Out on streets: BZU Lahore students stage protest

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had intervened on November 3, and asked the HEC to find a solution to the students’ problem.

The provincial government has formed a committee consisting of Education Minister Rana Mashhood, officials from the Higher Education Department and members of the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC).

HEC suggestions

The HEC review committee had held a meeting on November 6 and proposed three solutions:

One, The BZU should take over the campus ‘directly’ after obtaining approval from the university’s syndicate and the HEC.

Two, The BZU should negotiate with the private partner to resolve the financial issues “in light of the agreement made during the establishment of the sub-campus”. The BZU should provide programme and semester-wise registration details of all enrolled students to the HEC. The campus should stop further enrollment.

Three, Students should be given the option to transfer to a nearby public institution in a relevant programme at the discretion of the subsequent university upon meeting the admission criteria.

Provincial plan

Uncertain futures: PM directs resolution of BZU fiasco within 15 days

Mashhood announced on Saturday that the BZU’s Lahore campus would be granted the status of a degree awarding college.

The minister said that the decision had been taken on the advice of the provincial committee constituted by the chief minister.

Mashhood said the committee had been tasked with reviewing 11 such cases, including the BZU Lahore campus. He said the purpose was to save an academic year for the students.

Asked why the HEC and the provincial government had prepared separate reports, an HEC spokesperson said the commission had prepared its report on the prime minister’s orders. He did not elaborate.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30th, 2015.