LUMHS in Turmoil: Vice-Chancellor’s Son Bags 15 Gold Medals, Public Demands HEC Probe

A Convocation Overshadowed by Allegations of Nepotism

The 21st Annual Convocation of the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) , held on April 25, 2026, was expected to be a celebration of academic excellence. Instead, it has ignited a firestorm of public controversy. The event, which celebrated the graduation of over 1,700 students, has been reduced to a single talking point: the unprecedented achievement of Dr. Hammad Azhar, who walked away with 15 gold medals .

Dr. Azhar is the son of the sitting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Ikram Din Ujjan . While the university highlighted institutional milestones, the sight of the VC’s son receiving medal after medal left parents, peers, and observers questioning the very integrity of the university’s examination system.

The ‘Statistically Improbable’ Sweep

According to university officials, Dr. Hammad Azhar secured the first position in 15 different subjects. Witnesses at the ceremony described the moment as surreal. As the name "Hammad Azhar" was repeatedly called to the stage for gold medals in various disciplines, a wave of murmurs swept through the audience.

Critics and academic analysts have since described the performance as statistically improbable for any single candidate, let alone a direct relative of the university’s top administrator. "Medical education is highly competitive," said a parent who wished to remain anonymous. "For one student to claim the absolute top spot in 15 separate subjects, while his father oversees the institution that sets the curriculum and awards the marks—it defies logic. We need to see the raw answer sheets."

The Convocation Numbers and The Chief Guest

The ceremony was held at the LUMHS campus in Jamshoro/Sindh and also served as the second convocation of Bilawal Medical College. In total, the university conferred degrees upon 1,707 students , comprising 1,435 graduates and 272 postgraduates. For these students, the day marked the culmination of years of hard work. However, many felt their achievements were eclipsed by the controversy surrounding the VC’s family.

Adding to the political weight of the event was the presence of the chief guest, Sindh Minister Muhammad Ismail Rahoo . His attendance drew significant attention, with opposition voices questioning whether the provincial government was turning a blind eye to potential nepotism at the state-run medical university.

Vice-Chancellor’s Speech: Milestones vs. Malpractice

During his address, Prof. Dr. Ikram Din Ujjan focused heavily on the university’s recent expansion. He proudly announced the establishment of the Liaquat Institute in Thatta and the inauguration of new diagnostic laboratories across the region. He spoke of LUMHS as a beacon of progress in the province.

Ironically, his speech about institutional growth was delivered just minutes after his son had collected a stack of gold medals that outweighed those of the entire postgraduate batch combined. As of the evening of April 25, the university administration has not released any official statement justifying how one student could outperform 1,706 others so comprehensively across 15 distinct subjects.

Demand for Immediate Intervention

The lack of transparency has led to swelling public resentment. Citizen groups and academic watchdogs are now calling for the provincial government to intervene immediately. The question on everyone’s lips is simple: Were the 15 gold medals earned or engineered?

Social media in Sindh has been flooded with hashtags demanding a forensic audit of the examination results. Many are urging the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to step in. The HEC, as the regulatory body for higher education in Pakistan, has the authority to verify the transparency of academic awards, including the checking of internal assessments, practical exams, and theory papers for the subjects in question.

A Reputation Under Pressure

The LUMHS controversy highlights a persistent issue in public sector education: the conflict of interest when a Vice-Chancellor’s family member is a student at the same institution. While Prof. Dr. Ikram Din Ujjan has a long history of administrative achievements, the "15 gold medals" episode threatens to undo decades of institutional reputation.

Experts suggest that standard ethical protocols usually require recusal where the VC delegates examination and result duties to a neutral body when a relative is graduating. It remains unclear if such protocols were followed.

What Happens Next?

As pressure mounts, the Sindh Minister and LUMHS administration face a critical test. An internal review might satisfy some, but the severity of the allegations involving a statistical anomaly of 15 gold medals likely requires an external probe by the Higher Education Commission .

Until the university releases the subject-wise marks and comparative data of the students who secured second and third place, the cloud of suspicion will remain. For the 1,706 other students who earned their degrees on April 25, the day will not be remembered for their achievement, but for the controversy that Prof. Dr. Ikram Din Ujjan’s son brought to the stage.

The institution’s honesty now hangs in the balance, waiting for verification or vindication.