Haripur, March 20, 2026 (Shahid Ali Khan Tareen) – Allegations of irregularities have surfaced in the distribution of need-based scholarships funded by the Higher Education Commission at the University of Haripur, raising concerns about transparency and adherence to merit criteria.
According to official correspondence from the university’s Department of Law, reservations were expressed regarding the procedure used for awarding scholarships. In a written complaint, Law Officer and Head of the Department, Sajid Mehmood, pointed out alleged discrepancies in the selection process.
The complaint stated that both merit and financial need criteria were not properly followed, claiming that some students with higher academic performance and genuine financial hardship were overlooked, while others with comparatively lower GPAs were selected.
The matter was subsequently referred to the Vice Chancellor, who constituted an inquiry committee headed by the Dean of Social and Administrative Sciences, with the Deputy Registrar (Meetings) serving as secretary. The committee reportedly conducted an investigation and was expected to recommend disciplinary action against Aziz Ullah, who served as Convener of the Institutional Scholarship Committee.
However, sources indicated that the inquiry proceedings were closed prematurely and that the committee’s findings were not made public. A second committee was later formed under the Dean of IT and Natural Sciences to re-examine the issue.
Observers have raised concerns as the scholarships fall under the HEC Need-Based Scholarship Program, which requires strict compliance with transparent and merit-based selection standards.
Academic circles have called for a comprehensive and transparent review of the process to ensure accountability and the fair distribution of financial assistance to deserving students.