ISLAMABAD: The International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) is facing an administrative crisis due to the absence of a permanent Rector, with staff representatives warning that prolonged delays in governance are undermining the institution’s performance.

The University Staff Welfare Association (ISWA) said the vacant post has stalled meetings of the Board of Governors, leaving departmental promotions, staff upgradations, and time-scale decisions unresolved. Employees have voiced growing frustration over what they describe as unacceptable delays in routine matters.

The university has been without permanent leadership since the tenure of the Higher Education Commission chairman, who was appointed Acting Rector under Supreme Court orders, came to an end. The delay in appointing a new HEC chairman has further complicated the process of naming a Rector.

ISWA president stressed that the immediate appointment of a permanent Rector should be the government’s top priority. As an interim measure, the association urged the President of Pakistan, in his capacity as Chancellor of IIUI, to delegate Rector’s powers to the university’s President, Dr. Hafiz Ahmed Saad Al-Ahmad. ISWA described him as an experienced administrator capable of restoring stalled governance processes.

The association warned that continued inaction could harm not only staff interests but also the university’s academic and institutional standing. It called on authorities to act swiftly to safeguard the future of IIUI and its community.

Also read: IIUI Wins Landmark Legal Case Protecting Its Institutional Identity