The Ministry of Education and Professional Training has instructed the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) to refrain from making any significant decisions during the remaining tenure of its current President, Saudi national Prof Dr Hathal Homoud Alotaibi, whose term concludes on July 16.
In a letter addressed to IIUI Rector Dr. Prof. Dr. Samina Malik, Secretary Federal Education Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani emphasized the importance of avoiding hasty decisions regarding temporary recruitments, employee transfers, postings, and delegation of powers until the presidency is vacant.
The current president, appointed on July 17, 2020, for a four-year term, is scheduled to complete his tenure on July 16. Secretary Wani recommended organizing a farewell ceremony to acknowledge the president’s contributions to IIUI before the end of his term.
Furthermore, the letter highlighted the need to finalize the rules for appointing a new president, as mandated by the Board of Trustees’ decision in its June 2020 meeting. Despite this directive, concerns have been raised over the delay in implementing these rules, which has prompted calls for a transparent and expeditious appointment process.
Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, a member of the Board of Trustees, has repeatedly voiced concerns over the university’s governance issues, including non-implementation of board decisions and administrative irregularities. His efforts to address these issues, including corresponding with IIUI’s chancellor, President Asif Ali Zardari, have underscored the urgency of resolving these governance challenges to safeguard the university’s integrity and operational efficiency.
