Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, who also heads the Aitchison College Board of Governors, has directed the institution to establish clear, merit-based policies for appointments, selections and promotions.
In a letter to the college principal dated Aug 13, the governor said the policies should clearly outline eligibility requirements, selection procedures, tenure, code of conduct, and the roles and responsibilities of those involved. He stressed that the framework should ensure fairness, transparency and consistency in all appointments and promotions, including the selection of housemasters and the advancement of academic and administrative staff.
He also directed that the policies, once approved by the Board of Governors, should be published on the college’s website and official social media accounts.
The development came after parents of H2 students attending a Leadership Camp raised concerns over the selection of college prefects, head boys and deputy head boys. In a letter to Principal Dr Syed Turab Hussain, the parents alleged that some students had secured leadership positions through favouritism and nepotism.
The parents shared lists of students whom they claimed had been appointed to leadership positions despite weak academic records. They also alleged that some students had been recommended for admission to international universities despite poor Cambridge A Level Part-I results.
The parents further claimed that several international universities had placed admissions of some students on hold, probation or cancelled them because of poor final A Level results. They called for students who did not meet merit standards to be removed from leadership positions.
They also alleged that several Ivy League institutions, including Harvard University, had blacklisted Aitchison College over what they described as nepotistic practices.
The college principal was approached for a response to the governor’s letter and the parents’ allegations but did not respond directly.
The Aitchison College Old Boys’ Association (ACOBA), however, rejected what it described as “unsubstantiated” allegations circulating on social media and said it remained committed to protecting the institution’s reputation and upholding merit, transparency and fairness.
ACOBA officials said the principal had been appointed through an open recruitment process advertised in local and international media, attracting more than 120 applications, including candidates from overseas. They said the selection was conducted by a search committee with a majority of members from outside the Board of Governors and supported by a European education consultancy.
Regarding the appointment of college prefects and distribution of awards, the association said established procedures were followed, with student leadership positions and academic, extracurricular and sports honours determined through merit-based processes.
The association also criticised the public disclosure of students’ names in connection with the allegations, saying their identities, futures and reputations should not be subjected to public scrutiny.
ACOBA said international universities consider a range of factors when assessing applicants, including academic performance, personal statements, standardised test scores, extracurricular achievements and recommendations, many of which fall outside the college’s control.
