Several employees of the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), part of the University of Karachi, have sought intervention from the Caretaker Chief Minister in the institutional affairs, asking him to hold an inquiry against former director and renowned scientist Prof Dr Iqbal Choudhary, who they claimed is still using influence in administrative matters.
In a letter to the caretaker CM, they alleged that former ICCBS director was involved in ‘blatant violations of the university rules and regulations and financial corruption’ during his 21-year-long stint on the campus.The two-page letter attached with a 78-page “documentary evidence” is submitted by accounts officers, lab assistants and an office assistant associated with the ICCBS that comprises of the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry and Dr Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research.
The employees alleged that the former ICCBS director managed to serve his pre-retirement tenure (2002-2019) and post-retirement tenure (2019-2023) without getting approval of his appointments to the top post from the university’s syndicate, a mandatory requirement for appointments to the posts on grade 17 and above under the KU code.“After serving as the sole authority for 21 years, Prof Iqbal Choudhary was recently removed from his office by the executive board headed by KU vice chancellor. Still, he continues to pressurise the administration and influence the institute’s affairs,” alleges the Nov 28 letter.
