Karak: Serious allegations of irregularities and favoritism have emerged in the recruitment process at Khushal Khan Khattak University, Karak, raising concerns over transparency and fairness. The controversy centers on claims of discrepancies in the selection process for academic positions, particularly for the post of Assistant Professor in Media and Communication Studies.
Sources reveal that a candidate who scored 49.61 marks higher in the pre-selection examination was unjustly rejected during the interview, while a lower-scoring candidate with just 35.18 marks was selected. This has led to accusations of bias and favoritism within the selection board.
Further concerns have been raised about the authority of the acting Vice Chancellor of Kohat University and the Additional Vice Chancellor of Khushal Khan Khattak University, who reportedly oversaw the recruitment process despite lacking the legal mandate to do so. Sources highlight that, according to university statutes and the Higher Education Department (HED) regulations, there is no provision for a caretaker or Additional Vice Chancellor to conduct such processes.
The controversy deepens as the Minister for Higher Education, Meena Khan, and the HED Secretary have been accused of facilitating these alleged irregularities by granting undue authority to Vice Chancellors and their acting counterparts. Critics argue that this practice has persisted for several years in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, undermining the integrity of the higher education system.
Sources have called for a thorough investigation into the matter, urging the Chancellor and other relevant authorities to address these alleged violations and ensure justice. They also demand a review of the systemic issues enabling such practices, which they claim violate both the law and the principles of merit.
The university administration has yet to issue an official response, but the allegations have sparked widespread concern among stakeholders. The matter is expected to attract significant attention in the coming days as calls for accountability grow louder.
