From the Bishop of Peshawar
Sir, - I write regarding the Revd Dr David Gosling's comment (Letters, 1 March)
on the report (News, 22
February) of the £2-million grant by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Government to Edwardes College, a church institution of close to
3000 students in Peshawar.
Contrary to Dr Gosling's speculation that the grant is "no more
than a theatrical gesture", the funds (300 million Pakistani
rupees) were actually received by the College on 1 January 2013,
and are deposited in a College account entitled Edwardes College
Development Fund.
Contrary to his confidence that "it is improbable that the grant
will ever be utilised," disbursements are already being made to
upgrade faculty qualifications, computer networks, library
holdings, and scientific laboratories. It is clear that the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa Government in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has
signalled its strong confidence in Edwardes College and its
administration.
Dr Gosling is correct that the land and buildings of Edwardes
College have been vested in the Lahore Diocesan Trust Association
(LDTA) since the CMS's transfer of many properties in 1956. The
diocese of Peshawar has always been clear that LDTA owns the
property.
Moreover, the draft Charter for Edwardes as a degree-granting
institute specifically cites the property ownership by LDTA and
prohibits any sale, mortgage, lease, or other transfer of the
property, either by the College or by the sponsoring body, which is
the diocese. Thus, Dr Gosling's speculation that an attempt is
being made to "hand over" the property to the diocese of Peshawar
is contradicted by the facts.
Regarding the position of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor on the
Board of Governors, the current draft of the Charter for Edwardes
College as a degree-awarding institute states that the provincial
Governor will be the Chair of the Board, as indeed he currently
is.
The Charter's designation of the Bishop of Peshawar as the
Chancellor conforms to the Pakistan Higher Education Commission's
Model Charter for Private Universities, which states that the head
of the sponsoring body shall be the Chancellor.
Dr Gosling's employment at Edwardes College was terminated by
the Board of Governors in May 2010. In this light, his letter -
part of an ongoing campaign - exhibits the reflexive colonial
interference that the Church of England has worked hard to overcome
in its mission work.
HUMPHREY SARFARAZ PETERS
Vice Chair, Board of Governors
Edwardes College
The Mall, Peshawar 25000
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
