LAHORE The Punjab University (PU) syndicate on Saturday, confirming plagiarism charges against the varsity’s Institute of Chemistry Prof Dr Zaid Mahmood, penalised him with forced retirement under the PEEDA Act.
The syndicate also granted ex-post facto permission for re-consideration of an appeal of Abdul Qadir Gilani, son of former Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, for restoration of his BA result quashed due to an unfair mean case (UMC).
The decisions were taken in the 1706th meeting of the PU syndicate presided over by Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran. In the last meeting, the syndicate had decided to serve a show-cause notice on Dr Zaid Mahmood under the PEEDA Act and gave him an opportunity of personal hearing in the next meeting, held on Saturday.
Dr Zaid Mahmood appeared before the syndicate members in person on Saturday but it is learnt he could not defend his case. Later, the syndicate, after analysing the relevant record, found that Dr Zaid had plagiarised research articles and decided to penalise him with forced retirement. However, according to sources, one of the syndicate members, Dr Asmatullah, recorded his dissent note claiming that under the existing rules and policy of both Higher Education Commission (HEC) and PU itself on plagiarism, Dr Zaid’s research work could not be termed plagiarised. It is learnt Dr Asmatullah would submit a written dissent note soon, probably on Monday.
Dr Zaid had been claiming that his research papers were published before 2007 and therefore they could not be made a subject of the inquiry as per the HEC’s plagiarism policy. The plagiarism issue had been discussed at length in the last five meetings of the PU syndicate.
In 2011, a professor of Institute of Chemistry had filed a complaint against Dr Zaid alleging him that he had plagiarised research articles. An inquiry committee, consisting of Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) Department of Chemistry Chairperson Dr Bushra, DPI Colleges Dr Jaleel and former PU Additional Registrar Prof Dr Aurangzeb Alamgir, compared original sources and Dr Zaid’s research papers and found that most of the material was plagiarised.
The PU syndicate also granted ex post facto approval to an independent disciplinary committee, constituted in 2010, and its recommendations. The committee was constituted to hear appeals of candidates against decisions of the unfair means cases (UMCs) committee.
Moreover, the syndicate approved holding a new inquiry into Gilani’s case to review other allegations.
The syndicate approved the proceedings of the Academic Council and Finance and Planning Committee.
The meeting also approved vice chancellor’s 17 orders issued using his anticipatory powers under Section 15(3) of the PU Act 1973 regarding appointment of various heads of departments.
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