ISLAMABAD (Khyber Mail): The Supreme Court of Pakistan is set to hear the long-awaited case concerning the appointment of Vice Chancellors (VCs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) universities on February 25, 2025. A three-member bench, led by Justice Shahid Waheed and comprising Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, will review the Civil Petition for Leave to Appeal (CPLA) filed by the KP government against the decision of the Peshawar High Court’s Division Bench. The case has left 25 out of 34 universities in the province without permanent leadership for over 18 months, creating significant administrative and financial challenges.
The issue began in 2022 when the previous PTI-led government advertised the VC positions but failed to conduct interviews. In 2024, the process was handed over to the caretaker government, which, after securing approval from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), finalized candidate panels for each university. However, administrative delays prevented the summary from reaching the KP Governor for final approval. When the newly elected PTI government took office, it rejected these panels and decided to re-advertise the positions in July 2024, forming a new Academic Search Committee (ASC). The move was challenged in the Peshawar High Court by shortlisted candidates, who argued that the government’s decision disregarded due process. The court ruled in their favor on August 22, 2024, directing the government to proceed according to the law. The PTI administration later appealed the decision in the Supreme Court in September 2024.
The PTI government contends that the caretaker administration unlawfully altered ASC members without seeking ECP approval, while the petitioners maintain that the caretaker government acted within its authority. They argue that the 28-day replacement of committee members was a routine matter and did not require fresh clearance from the ECP.
With over 80 percent of KP’s universities lacking permanent VCs, the crisis has severely impacted the financial and administrative stability of the institutions. The KP government has allocated only PKR 3 billion for 34 universities, a significantly lower budget compared to other provinces, such as Sindh, which allocated PKR 32 billion for 26 universities, Punjab with PKR 12 billion for 52 universities, and Balochistan with PKR 12 billion for 11 universities. Faculty members have criticized the government’s approach, accusing it of exacerbating the crisis through underfunding and politically motivated hiring practices during the caretaker tenure.
The issue is further complicated by deteriorating security conditions in conflict-prone regions, where university hostels have reportedly become hubs for unrest, posing risks to students and staff. Education experts and academic staff associations have urged the Supreme Court to enforce a transparent and merit-based appointment process, emphasizing adherence to the court’s prior directive that VC vacancies should not exceed six months. The upcoming hearing on February 25 is expected to be crucial in resolving the impasse and restoring stability to KP’s higher education sector.