LAHORE: Unlike previous practice, the sitting Punjab governor has recalled the interview process of 10 candidates, including those five who got approval from the Punjab Cabinet for their appointment as vice chancellors (VCs) of five public sector medical universities.

Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan intervened when reportedly three out of 10 candidates who were shortlisted by a selection committee approached him According to the summary (copy available with Dawn), four of the 10 nominated candidates were recommended for being top on the merit list.

Prof Mahmood Ayaz was nominated for King Edward Medical University, Maj-Gen retired Sohail Sabir for University of Health Sciences, Maj-Gen retired Suhail Amin for Rawalpindi Medical University and Prof Syed Asghar Naqi for Faisalabad Medical University while Prof Zohra Khanum who was third on merit, was recommended for appointment as FJMU vice chancellor.

She got approval for the women medical university when Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz put up certain objections to the nomination of two candidates who were also nominated for the top position of the FJMU.

In her note, the CM said Prof Zohra Khanum is “a gynecologist who also possesses a management qualification. She served at Fatima Jinnah Medical University/Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in various capacities for approximately a decade (2013–2023), thereby acquiring first-hand institutional knowledge of FJMU. Her professional specialization is directly relevant to the university’s distinctive mandate, while her management qualification and extensive administrative exposure further strengthen her institutional suitability. Her leadership as Principal, SMS, is also noteworthy, with the institution earning the Diamond Award during her tenure.

“Taken collectively, her domain expertise, management acumen, intimate familiarity with FJMU, demonstrated leadership record and proactive approach place her in a comparatively stronger position to respond to the university’s specific challenges, consolidate its institutional development and navigate its academic and administrative complexities effectively.”

Talking about the previous practices, a senior official said that the Punjab governor as chancellor of the universities used to endorse the decisions of the CM and the cabinet as well whenever, in the past, the summaries were forwarded for approval.

Unlike the previous practice, he said the governor called all the 10 candidates for interviews when three of them challenged the decision of the cabinet and the CM.

In the summary, it was declared that the cabinet and the CM had approved the names of four senior doctors out of 10 for being highest in merit while a woman candidate was recommended for her posting as VC of the FJMU.

The other shortlisted candidates who were dropped by the CM included former VC of the UHS Prof Ahsan Waheed Rathore, former VC of the Faisalabad Medical University Prof Zafar Chaudhry, former VC of the FJMU Prof Khalid Masood Gondal and former VC of the Rawalpindi Medical University Prof Mohammad Umar.

The senior official said that the Punjab governor may reject the summary and send it back to the chief minister for reconsideration.

To a question, he said 43 candidates had applied for top positions of the five medical universities of Punjab.

The selection committee shortlisted 10 of them, he said, adding that a summary to this effect was sent to the CM for final consideration.

He said that the CM after interviewing the shortlisted candidates finalises names of five of them as mentioned above.

The Punjab cabinet later grants approval to the names finalised by the CM, the official said.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2026