HEC Chairman, Higher Education Secretary Summoned In BZU Enrolment Case

LAHORE, Jan 3 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 03rd Jan, 2017 ) : The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday summoned the chairman Higher Education Commission (Pakistan) and secretary Punjab Higher Education Department for January 5 on petition challenging step of enrolment of Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) Lahore students at Multan campus.

The court also summoned the former vice chancellor and registrar of the BZU along reply on the next date of hearing. The court also vacated stay regarding students registration besides referring the matter to the LHC chief Justice with a request to form a larger bench to hear the matter.

The single bench comprising Justice Syed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi passed the orders on petition filed by Muhammad Usman and others. During the hearing, petitioner's counsel Ghulam Sarwar Nihung submitted that the BZU Lahore campus students had been asked to enrol at Multan campus for further education.

He pleaded the court to direct authorities to make alternate arrangements for completion of students' studies in Lahore. However, the BZU vice chancellor along with registrar appeared before the court and BZU Lahore campus was founded illegally.

The VC submitted that enrolment of the affected Lahore campus students was in progress and classes would start from January 15 at Multan Campus. He briefed that 80 per cent students had got themselves enroled already.

He submitted that a separate campus had been established for the affected students besides two hostels. He clarified that no extra fee would be charged from the students whereas efforts were being made to get the B-Tech and medical students admitted in the relevant institutions in Lahore.

At this stage, the court observed that it was a serious matter. The students got education for three years at BZU Lahore sub-campus but the authorities did not take any action, he added. Under what law the sub-campus was allowed to be established in Lahore, Justice Mazahar questioned.

However, the court withdrew the stay regarding registration and adjourned the matter till January 5. The court summoned chairman Higher Education Commission and secretary Higher Education Departments on next hearing.