Punjab Governor Orders Merit-Based Policies for Aitchison College Students

Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has instructed Aitchison College to establish clear, merit-based policies for choosing college prefects and other student leadership roles. As president of the college's Board of Governors (BoG), he requested policies that outline eligibility criteria, selection procedures, tenure, codes of conduct, and roles/responsibilities for leadership positions in academics and sports.

The governor also advocated for fairness in appointing housemasters and promoting academic/administrative staff. Submitted policies will undergo BoG approval before being posted on the college website and social media channels.

Parents attending a Leadership Camp lodged complaints with Principal Dr. Syed Turab Hussain, alleging nepotism and unfair practices in leadership appointment. They questioned the recommendation of certain students for admission to international universities despite poor academic performances, claiming multiple leading universities had voiced concerns about the college's policies.

However, these allegations remain unverified. Parents demanded disciplinary action against any students appointed without meeting merit standards.

The Aitchison College Old Boys' Association (ACOBA) vehemently rejected the allegations on social media. ACOBA President Usman Haq, General Secretary Omer Qureshi, and executives firmly defended the college's values of transparency, merit, and fairness. The association claimed the principal was appointed through an open process, receiving over 120 applications, including overseas candidates.

They affirmed the establishment of merit-based procedures for prefect appointments and student honors. Regarding university admissions, ACOBA asserted that students should not be publicly criticized or have academic records exposed, as admissions consider numerous factors beyond the college's control, such as academic performance, essays, test scores, extracurricular activities, and recommendations.