Dr Nasira Khatoon appointed as Karachi University Acting VC

KARACHI: The government has appointed Professor Dr Nasira Khatoon as the Acting Vice-Chancellor of Karachi University.

According to a notification by Universities and Boards Department, Goverment of Sindh, “Prof. Dr. Nasir Khatoon, Dean, Faculty of Science, University of Karachi, is hereby appointed as action Vice Chancellor, University of Karachi as an interim arrangement till further orders.”

It said the appointment was in compliance with the order passed by Sindh High Court. The court had ordered the removal of Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi as acting vice-chancellor and called for a new appointment.

On February 25, the SHC had ordered the removal of Acting Vice Chancellor of Karachi University and annulment of all decisions taken after January 26, 2022.

A two-judge bench headed by Justice Aftab Ahmed Gorar heard the contempt of court petition against not removing Khalid Iraqi from the office. The court remarked that contempt of court proceedings will be initiated if it was not implemented within a week.

On January 26, the Sindh High Court heard a petition by Dr Moonis Ahmer and Dr Ahmed Qadri and ordered the removal of acting Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Iraqi. It also ordered a new appointment among ten senior professors within a month.

Rather than resigning from his post, Dr Khalid Iraqi acted reluctantly against the court’s order. The petitioners eventually approached the Sindh High Court with contempt of court petition for non-implementation of the court order.

The court directed to appoint new acting vice chancellor within a week. The court also ordered the appointment of a senior professor and dean as acting vice-chancellor and to start preparations for the appointment of a permanent vice-chancellor

Days after the court order, Secretary Board and Universities Muhammad Mureed Rahmon issued a notification for the new appointment in compliance with the court’s order.