KARACHI: For the second time after his retirement, Dr Iqbal Chaudhry, Director of Hussain Ibrahim Jamal Research Institute (HEJ), allegedly barred Senior Professor Dr Raza Shah from becoming the Director of Offices of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORICs).
The acting administration of Karachi University recommended the name of Dr Raza Shah to the concerned authority for the appointment of ORIC Director. Acting Registrar Dr Maqsood Ansari had also informed Raza Shah in this regard on the orders of Vice-Chancellor Dr Nasira Khatoon.
Informed sources have claimed that after the summary of Raza Shah’s appointment was forwarded to concerned authority, HEJ Director Dr Iqbal Chaudhry allegedly used his influence to once again deprive the senior professor of his rights and increased the pressure on the incumbent administration and stopped the appointment.
When contacted in this regard, Dr Raza Shah – the most senior professor among the existing faculty members of HEJ – said that he had no idea why and who stopped his appointment as ORIC director. “I was informed about the offer, but I don’t know what happened after the summary was forwarded,” he said.
It is pertinent to mention here that Acting HEJ Director Dr Prof Iqbal Chaudhry was retired after completing his tenure four years ago. However, he was later appointed director illegally by depriving senior professors of their rights.
Later, former Vice-Chancellor Dr Khalid Mahmoud re-appointed Iqbal Chaudhry as Director HEJ for two more years after the approval of the Executive Board. The Hussain Ibrahim Jamal Research Institute (HEJ) illegally set up its own ORIC about 10 years ago.
When contacted in this regard, HEJ Director Dr Iqbal Chaudhry said, “Offering such a responsibility to one of our senior professors in another department affects our own affairs as HEJ itself is busy carrying out important matters. Dr Raza Shah himself is assigned to important responsibilities that HEJ needs.”
It is worth mentioning here that there is no permanent director of Offices of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) due to which Dr Asma Tabassum has been temporarily made in-charge.
Meanwhile, Acting Registrar Dr Maqsood Ansari refused any influence in the barring appointment of Raza Shah as Director ORIC. “We had the option of Dr Raza Shah, Dr. Bilquis Gul and Dr Iram among others. We have to appoint a director as soon as possible to run the affairs,” he added.
