Federal Urdu University Plunged into Crisis: Parliamentary Committee Confronts VC Over Mismanagement, Harassment Allegations, and Financial Turmoil

A storm of criticism erupted in the Parliamentary Committee on Federal Education as members raised grave concerns over the conduct, credibility, and administrative failures of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology (FUUAST) Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Zabita Khan Shinwari, condemning not only his alleged behavior but also the persistent silence of the Ministry of Education and HEC despite months of public reporting, official complaints, and a binding harassment decision. Members questioned why the FOSPAH ruling—which found the VC guilty of making derogatory and gender-insensitive remarks—was never implemented, with Abdul Aleem Khan expressing shock that the Ministry had learned of it only through unofficial channels, reflecting a collapse of accountability. Further outrage followed when Sabeen Ghori highlighted the VC’s offensive comments documented by FOSPAH, including his claim that “women after 40 become troublesome due to biological effects,” questioning how such a person could be allowed to lead an institution where thousands of young women study and work, especially after Geo News, BBC, and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan all demanded action. The committee also grilled the VC for drawing both pension and full salary at a time when the university cannot pay its own employees, rebuking him sharply when he attempted to interrupt. Acting Chairperson Dr. Shazia Sobia criticized the Ministry and HEC for their continued inaction on financial mismanagement, administrative collapse, and harassment complaints, warning that their silence signaled negligence at the highest levels. Members also questioned the VC’s unauthorized foreign trips without an NOC, with Sabeen Ghori sarcastically asking whether the Ministry should be “shut down” if its approval processes could be ignored so easily. Adding further controversy, the committee noted that the VC’s appointment is already under court challenge and that he ranked third in merit, demanding clarity on how such a compromised candidate continues to hold office. Even as the VC blamed past selection boards for the university’s financial collapse, members dismissed this as an attempt to deflect responsibility. Although FUUAST managed to hold its first convocation in 14 years, the committee credited this achievement to its own efforts and the Ministry’s intervention—not to the VC’s leadership. In response to the mounting concerns, the Acting Chairperson announced a special subcommittee to enforce implementation of the FOSPAH decision, review harassment cases, and scrutinize the VC’s conduct, concluding that the VC’s actions, the Ministry’s silence, and HEC’s failure had pushed FUUAST into crisis and that the committee would no longer allow the matter to be ignored.