KARACHI: Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has once again appointed Dr. Amjad Siraj Memon as a Vice-Chancellor of Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU); however, his re-appointment can be challenged in the court by the top position candidate Dr. Lubna Baig Ansari.
Secretary Boards and Universities Murad Rahimoon has confirmed that Sindh Chief Minister has re-approved the name of Dr. Amjad Siraj Memon for the post of Vice-Chancellor of the varsity.
It may be recalled that on March 21, in the light of the Sindh High Court order, the chief minister had conducted interviews of shortlisted candidates for the appointment of Permanent Vice-Chancellor in JSMU. After completing the interviews, the chief minister sought legal consultation on the issue, while on Thursday he approved the name of Dr. Memon for the post.
Earlier, Dr. Memon was also appointed on the post by the chief minister, but Dr. Ansari, who was on top of the list, challenged his appointment and the court first suspended the notification of the appointment and later declared it null and void. The court remarked that the provincial government had ignored the criteria of seniority and qualification and could not satisfy the court on concerns regarding nepotism. The court had ordered re-interviewing the shortlisted candidates within 30 days.
It is notable that the search committee had given the first position to former PVC of JSMU Dr. Ansari with 70 marks. Dow Medical College Principal Dr. Amjad Siraj Memon remained second with 67 marks, while Dr. Khawaja Mustafa Qadri obtained 48 marks.
It is also worth mentioning that presently, Dr. Memon is also in-charge of Lyari University as the permanent vice-chancellor of the varsity Akhtar Baloch has been sent on 45 days of forced leaves.
Sources said that Dr. Ansari has the option to make the case of Dr. Saeed Qureshi, former Vice-Chancellor of Dow University, an example and approach the court again. In the era of former Governor of Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ibad, a similar decision was taken by appointing the second position candidate Noshad Shiekh as Vice-Chancellor of Dow University.
On appointing of Dr. Noshad Sheikh Dr. Saeed Qureshi had moved to the court and filed a constitutional petition making the then Governor, Chief Minister Sindh, and Secretary Boards and Universities a party. On his petition, the court had ordered reprocessing for appointing of the vice-chancellor.
However; despite the court decision Dr. Ibad had again appointed. Dr. Sheikh on the post and Dr. Qureshi had again moved to the court. On this the court-ordered appointment of the first position candidate against the post. After the court decision, Dr. Qureshi became the VC and completed his tenure. Now, it is expected that the appointment of Dr. Memon can also be re-challenged in the court by making the matter of Dr. Sheikh a base.
