Lahore: The vice-chancellor of Punjab University has inducted a professor accused of plagiarising international research papers into the Advance Studies and Research Board (ASRB) of the university.
The board approves all PhD level research theses.
Vice-Chancellor Lieutenant General (retired) Arshad Mahmood on August 15 appointed Dr Fazal-e-Aleem, director, Centre Director for High Energy Physics (CHEP) and two others to the ASRB.
Dr Aleem, former head of Punjab University's doctoral programme, and three teachers Rashid Ahmad, Maqsood Ahmad and Alam Saeed had been accused of plagiarising research papers and lectures and presenting those as their own at global conferences.
A committee of the American Institute of Physics found the allegations of plagiarism to be true on August 10. The Punjab University has also launched an inquiry against them.
However, it appears the vice-chancellor had exercised his emergency powers to appoint Dr Aleem in violation of University Calendar Rules. According to the set rules, ASRB members should be appointed through elections within the Academic Council rather than through nominations or selections.
According to PU Registrar Dr Naeem Khan, the accusations of plagiarism had nothing to do with the ASRB. He said: "We have inducted him as an experimental physicist in recognition of services rendered to the varsity as former head of the PhD programme."
