KARACHI: Sajjad Haider Naqvi, Assistant Professor (BPS-19) of Karachi University, has fled to New Zealand again without paying a recovery amount of Rs3 million and approval from the concerned authority.
Sajjad Haider Naqvi – Assistant Professor in Department of Biochemistry – after obtaining dual citizenship, travelled on a New Zealand passport and had received one monthly salary from Karachi University despite being absent.
Earlier, the absconding professor left for New Zealand on May 25, 2018 on an Air China flight No. CA946. One and a half months later, Sajjad’s colleagues approved a Post-Doctoral Study Leave (16th July 2018 to 20th March 2019) from Karachi University for him by submitting a surety bond.
However, Sajjad Haider Naqvi returned to Pakistan via Emirates flight No. EK 600 on April 17, 2021 instead of March 20, 2019. The assistant professor stayed in New Zealand for 2 years and one month without permission from the competent authority. He was also receiving regular salary from Karachi University during his stay.
Sajjad Haider Naqvi later joined the varsity on April 18, 2021 after the Karachi University Syndicate gave the assistant professor last chance. The KU syndicate also ordered Sajjad Haider to return salaries of July 16, 2018 to March 20, 2019 and of March 2019 to April 2021. A total of Rs338,179 was to be recovered from Assistant Professor.
The assistant professor, once again, fled to New Zealand via Emirates EK 607 with passport number LB1692261, without paying the recovery amount and not getting any approval from the concerned department.
The then Chairperson Biochemistry Prof. Dr Samina Bano penned down a letter to Registrar Karachi University Dr Abdul Waheed that Sajjad Haider Naqvi is absent without notice and his salary should be stopped immediately and disciplinary action should be taken against him.
Later, KU Registrar Dr Abdul Waheed ordered the Chief Accountant to immediately stop issuing salary to Sajjad Haider.
Informed sources have claimed that Sajjad Haider travelled for post-doctoral study but returned without obtaining the said degree and the university did not take any disciplinary action except recovery.
However, after a continuous absence from the department in December 2021, Dr Prof Samina Bano, on inquiry, claimed Sajjad Haider was absent due to Covid-19 and later explained the reason for the absence of family issues through a message.
When contacted by M.M News, former chairperson Dr Prof Samina Bano said that she could not comment on the matter as only the registrar could tell. However, KU Registrar Abdul Waheed did not responded to the calls.
