Punjab Governor and University of Kamalia Chancellor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has upheld the cancellation of 77 non-teaching appointments made while an interim vice chancellor was in charge, finding the hiring process flawed on procedure and finance. In an order dated 14 October, he dismissed a revision petition by the affected candidates against the university syndicate’s decision of 4 July 2023.
The posts, in Basic Pay Scales 1 to 16, followed an advertisement dated 4 December 2022 during the tenure of interim vice chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, who now chairs the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC), the provincial body that oversees public universities. The university argued that the posts lacked formal approval and budget cover and that the required financial scrutiny was never finished.
Why the syndicate cancelled the drive
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which runs elections and can restrict government hiring during election periods, imposed a recruitment ban on 22 January 2023. The university’s selection committee held interviews in April and issued appointment letters on 13 April—the same day the university asked for relaxation of that ban. The ECP conveyed concurrence on 8 May 2023, according to the record before the chancellor.
On 4 July 2023 the syndicate cancelled the process from the start. It noted that the posts had not been formally created or budgeted, that the Finance and Planning Committee had not completed the needed scrutiny, and that candidates had not finished joining steps within the required 15 days. Medical examinations took place on 8 and 9 May 2023, after that joining window had closed.
Court path and arguments before the chancellor
Candidates challenged the syndicate decision in the Lahore High Court. On 19 November 2025 the court disposed of those petitions and told them to use the statutory remedy before the chancellor.
Before the governor, the candidates said they had passed written tests and interviews, completed formalities and, in some cases, left earlier jobs after receiving appointment letters. They argued the appointments fell within the vice chancellor’s powers and that budgets covered the posts.
University Registrar Dr Muhammad Raees Ashraf opposed restoration. He said appointment letters alone did not create a right to join when formalities were not finished in time, and that the hirings would have created a salary liability above Rs100 million while the university’s total revenue for the relevant year was around Rs70 million.
Order and what the campus will do next
After hearing both sides and reviewing the record, the governor dismissed the revision petition and upheld the syndicate. Requests to restore the appointments and allow joining were refused.
University of Kamalia Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Yasir Nawab confirmed the outcome, saying the governor had heard the candidates and the administration before deciding, and that the university would implement the order.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- 4 December 2022: University of Kamalia advertises non-teaching posts (BPS-1 to 16).
- 22 January 2023: Election Commission of Pakistan imposes a ban on recruitments.
- April 2023 / 13 April 2023: Interviews held; appointment letters issued the same day the university seeks ban relaxation.
- 8–9 May 2023: ECP concurrence recorded (8 May); medical exams held after the 15-day joining deadline.
- 4 July 2023: Syndicate cancels the recruitment from the outset.
- 19 November 2025: Lahore High Court directs candidates to pursue the chancellor’s statutory remedy; chancellor’s order follows on 14 October.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Kamalia university mein 77 non-teaching jobs cancel ho chuki thin, aur governor ne us faislay ko qaim rakha hai. Recruitments mein budget aur rules ke masail thay, aur joining ki muradada midat bhi poori nahi hui. Jin logon ko appointment letters mile thay, un ki job wapas nahi mili. University ab governor ke order par amal kare gi.
