Punjab governor directs Aitchison College to frame merit-based selection rules

LAHORE: The Punjab governor has directed Aitchison College to formulate merit-based policies for the selection of college prefects and other student leadership positions in sports and academics.

The governor, who is also president of the Aitchison College Board of Governors, in a letter addressed to the college principal on Aug 13, desired that the policies should clearly define the eligibility criteria, selection procedure, tenure, code of conduct, roles and responsibilities and other relevant provisions, to ensure fairness, transparency and uniformity in all appointments, selections and promotions. He also called for ensuring fairness in the appointment of housemasters as well as promotion of academic and administrative staff.

The governor also desired that the policies, after obtaining approval of the BoG, be uploaded on the college website and official social media platforms.

The Aitchison College Old Boys’ Association (ACOBA) executive committee has, however, strongly rejected the unsubstantiated posts circulating on social media that make serious allegations against the college.

Parents allege nepotism in prefect appointments, recommendations for foreign admissions; Old Boys panel rejects charges, defends principal

Citing Punjab Governor’s letter, the parents of H2 students, attending the Leadership Camp, had same evening written a letter to Principal Dr Syed Turab Hussain objecting to the appointments of college prefects (CPs), head boys and deputy head boys alleging that they were assigned leadership roles through nepotism and unfair practices.The parents attached two lists of students claiming nepotism used for their appointments as CPs and recommending them for admission to international universities.

They alleged the students having poor grades and even those who joined the institution in E2 (Grade 7), were made CPs.

In the second list, the parents listed students’ names who were recommended for admission to international universities by the institution’s administration, despite having poor Cambridge A Level Part-I grades. Claiming that there are several such students, the parents have circulated a list of 10 students whose admissions were either placed on probation, on hold, and even cancelled for their poor A Levels final results by the international universities during the previous and incumbent principals’ tenures since 2019.Parents also claimed that many Ivy League universities including Harvard had now blacklisted Aitchison College due to its ‘nepotistic policies.’

The parents demand that steps be taken to remove such students from leadership roles, who do not genuinely merit their positions, to restore integrity.Dawn shared the governor’s letter as well as allegations leveled by parents with principal Dr Turab Hussain, but he opted not to respond directly. Instead, the ACOBA responded to the allegations, including apprehensions against the appointment of the principal, circulating on social media. They also shared their written response with the governor.

Rejecting the allegations, the association’s executive committee (EC) members stated that they were standing firmly with the college in upholding the values of transparency, merit, and fairness that Aitchisonians had always taken pride in.

Association’s president Usman Haq, general secretary Omer Qureshi and EC members stated the college principal was appointed through an open process advertised in both local and international media, drawing over 120 applications, including candidates from abroad. The interview process was conducted by a search committee comprising a majority of members from outside the BoG and supported by a European reputed global education consulting firm.

With regard to the appointment of CPs and college awards, they stated student leadership, college honours, and college awards were the outcome of an established robust process. Explaining the procedures, the association stated that comparable, merit-based processes govern the award of College Colours in sports and Honours in academic and extracurricular activities.

Referring to allegations of nepotism in recommending students for admissions to universities abroad, the association first expressed its resentment over naming children publicly. “Their names, futures, and reputations are not material for public spectacle,” the association observed and asserted that the public targeting or exposure of students was wholly unacceptable and it would stand unequivocally and without reservation for their protection and dignity.

“The admission committees of leading international universities weigh academics alongside personal essays, standardised test scores, extra-curricular achievements, recommendations, and other factors that are well beyond the college’s realm,” the ACOBA stated.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2026