LAHORE: A massive corruption scandal and series of administrative irregularities have surfaced at Punjab University’s Institute of Education and Research (IER), casting a dark shadow over the prestige of Pakistan’s oldest seat of higher learning. Despite gravity of the allegations, Vice Chancellor Dr. Muhammad Ali Shah and the Board of Governors (BoG) have reportedly turned a blind eye, fueling resentment among faculty, staff, and students.
The Allegation of a ‘Fake’ PhD
At the heart of the controversy is the Director of IER, Dr. Abdul Qayyum Chaudhry. An investigation by Daily Media has revealed that Dr. Chaudhry’s PhD degree is allegedly fraudulent. Sources claim that the degree is unverified, and his doctoral thesis is conspicuously missing from the university’s library. The matter is currently sub-judice in the High Court.
Records indicate that Abdul Qayyum (son of Muhammad Yasin) enrolled in the PhD program in 2001 (Roll No. 3/2001/D). According to the 2001 prospectus, candidates were required to meet specific Overall Percentage Marks (OPM) and credit hour criteria. Investigation suggests that Dr. Qayyum failed to meet these requirements but allegedly manipulated the rules to secure a notification (No. PhD/2011/R115) dated December 22, 2011. Furthermore, it is alleged that his original file was removed from the records, and he later issued his own PhD result card under his own signature.
Administrative Anarchy & Out-of-Turn Appointments
The investigation cell highlighted a blatant disregard for service rules in staff appointments:
Kamal Ahmed Gul: A Grade-16 employee has been illegally appointed as the Estate Officer, a post strictly reserved for Grade-17 officers.
Muhammad Yusuf Raza: The General Secretary of the Employees Union, a Grade-5 employee, was appointed as Assistant Estate Officer—a position that does not even exist in the IER budget.
Imran Ahmed Khan: Despite a BoG directive to keep him away from sensitive posts due to past cases, Khan was appointed as In-charge of the Purchase Store, allegedly to facilitate the approval of bogus bills.
Saifullah Mayo: A senior clerk previously transferred out of the Accounts Branch due to complaints was reinstated in the same department.
Financial Mismanagement and Harassment
While the BoG remains silent on administrative lapses, student fees were reportedly hiked without their approval. Paradoxically, the institute is struggling to pay salaries and pensions on time. Faculty members awaiting payments for part-time courses and retirees waiting over a year for their dues have been left in the lurch.
In stark contrast to the institute’s “financial crunch,” Dr. Abdul Qayyum reportedly spent millions in public funds on the renovation of his official residence, altering its entire structure without the mandatory approval of the Chief Engineer.
Surveillance and Exploitation
The atmosphere at IER is described as “oppressive.” The Director has allegedly installed hidden cameras and audio recorders across the institute to illegally monitor and harass students and staff. Furthermore, sources revealed that the wives of several sanitary workers are working at the Director’s house and IER without any official documentation or transparent payment records.
University circles have expressed deep concern over the “criminal silence” of the Vice Chancellor, calling for an immediate high-level inquiry to save the institution from further decay.
