Justice Khalid Ishaq issued the order while hearing petitions filed by Professor Ehsan Qadir Bhaba and others. Lawyers, including Advocate Supreme Court Zohaib Imran Sheikh, appeared before the court on behalf of the petitioners.
The court directed the university’s Syndicate to conduct a comprehensive investigation into all 228 appointments and examine the legality, merit and transparency of the recruitment process involving employees and professors.
The court also ordered that all 228 individuals be given an opportunity to be heard during the inquiry.
Petitioners’ counsel alleged that 228 people, ranging from lower-grade employees to professors, had been recruited unlawfully. He claimed that former Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan issued the appointment notifications late at night on the occasion of his retirement.
The lawyer further told the court that the Punjab governor, in his capacity as chancellor, had previously directed the university’s Syndicate to investigate the alleged irregular appointments. He claimed that the employees concerned had created obstacles in the inquiry.
The petitioners’ counsel also alleged that the individuals involved were attempting to avoid proceedings under the protection of a court stay order, maintaining that government appointments could not legally be made through an unlawful or non-transparent process.
After hearing arguments from all parties, the court directed the University of Agriculture Faisalabad Syndicate to conduct a detailed investigation into the 228 appointments.