Lahore Bar seeks impartial probe, audit into Punjab University affairs

LAHORE: The Lahore Bar Association has called upon the Punjab government, the Governor of Punjab and the Chancellor of Punjab University to constitute an impartial inquiry committee and order a transparent independent forensic audit of the university’s administrative and financial affairs.

The demand was made after a delegation of the Punjab University Joint Action Committee met the executive body of the Lahore Bar Association on August 1, 2026, and briefed it on its concerns regarding the university’s alleged administrative, financial, academic and research-related issues.

The delegation met Lahore Bar Association President Irfan Hayat Bajwa and other representatives of the bar. The delegation included Prof Dr Sardar Asghar, Prof Dr Kamran Abid, Prof Dr Abdul Rehman Niazi, Prof Dr Amjad Qaiser, Javed Iqbal, Dr Amid Ali Chaudhry, Basharat Mahmood Bhatti, Tanveer Awan and other members.

Lahore Bar Association Secretary General Malik Fayyaz Nisar Khokhar, Secretary Shoaib Ashraf Bhatti, Model Town Courts Vice President Asif Kanwal Khan, Cantt Courts Vice President Naeem Mustafa Mirza, Joint Secretary Muhammad Zubair Khan, Finance Secretary Nauman Ali, Library Secretary Raheel Hafeez Rana and other members of the executive body were also present.

During the meeting, the Punjab University Joint Action Committee representatives informed the bar about their reservations, demands and proposals concerning the university’s financial, administrative, academic and research matters. They maintained that over the past two years, the university’s institutional system and governance had faced multiple problems.

The delegation stated that collective consultation, transparent decision-making and institutional oversight had been affected due to the alleged delay and irregularity in meetings of important constitutional and administrative forums.

It said regular meetings of the Syndicate, Finance and Planning Committee, Selection Boards, Promotion Boards and other relevant bodies were essential for strengthening the institutional system. The delegation urged that these forums should be made functional and effective so that key university matters could be decided through collective consultation in accordance with law and rules.

Financial issues also came under discussion. The delegation stressed the need to ensure transparency in matters relating to the use of reserve funds, budgetary expenditures, accounts, self-supporting programmes, the overall financial position and other financial decisions.

According to the delegation, these matters should be reviewed independently, impartially and in line with the law so that facts could be brought forward and any ambiguity removed.

The Joint Action Committee also raised concerns about freedom of expression, freedom of association and the promotion of academic dialogue at the university. It also conveyed its apprehensions regarding certain issues faced by teachers, students and employees, as well as various proceedings.

The representatives said a strong and progressive university rested on an independent academic environment, transparent governance, collective consultation and institutional autonomy. They said that to improve academic and research standards, all relevant stakeholders should be included in the consultation process and institutional decisions should be taken on the basis of merit and transparency.

Speaking on the occasion, Lahore Bar Association President Irfan Hayat Bajwa and other participants heard the delegation’s position in detail. They said Punjab University was a historic and national academic institution of Pakistan and that maintaining its dignity, autonomy and strong institutional system was a shared responsibility of all concerned quarters.

They observed that rule of law, transparency, merit, accountability and constitutional principles were basic requirements for every public and educational institution and must be upheld in all circumstances.

They said the solution to the problems of an important national institution like Punjab University did not lie in confrontation, but in institutional consultation under the law, respect for differing views, transparent accountability and merit-based decisions.

The Lahore Bar Association president urged the Punjab government, Governor of Punjab and Chancellor of Punjab University to form an impartial inquiry committee to address the university’s administrative, financial, academic and research-related issues.

He also proposed a transparent and independent forensic audit of the university to conduct a comprehensive review of financial decisions made during the past period, the use of reserve funds, accounts, budget deficit, self-supporting programmes and other financial affairs.

Mr Bajwa said the purpose of the inquiry should not be to target any individual or institution, but to establish facts, determine responsibility and further strengthen the university’s institutional system. He said transparent investigations and effective reforms could help improve Punjab University’s academic environment, administrative structure and public trust.

The Lahore Bar Association also expressed its resolve to continue supporting the principles of law, transparency, merit and institutional autonomy in matters relating to Punjab University.

The association said that if appropriate progress was not made on the demands, it would decide its future course of action in consultation with the Punjab University Joint Action Committee.

The meeting also emphasised that issues concerning a national institution such as Punjab University should be resolved through dialogue and within the legal and constitutional framework so that academic activities were not affected and the university could continue to play an effective role in research, teaching and intellectual development.

The participants expressed the hope that the relevant authorities would take the concerns of all sides seriously and initiate transparent and positive measures to promote better governance, financial transparency, academic freedom and institutional stability at Punjab University.