‘Vested interests against devolution’

ISLAMABAD – Certain elements with vested interests are working against provincial autonomy and creating uncertainty about the devolution process being carried out under the 18th Amendment, Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister and Implementation Commission on 18th Amendment Chairman Raza Rabbani said on Tuesday. He said he would bring documentary proof against such people if they did not refrain from this practice. He was replying to various points of order, raised by legislators Dr Abdul Qadar Khanzada, Shahid Khakan Abbasi, Engineer Khurram Dastgir, Yousaf Talpoor and various others regarding the devolution of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to the provinces.
Rabbani said such elements were creating a storm in a tea cup despite his assurances that the HEC would remain intact with the new name, Standard for Higher Education Commission, to oversee the standards of higher education in the country, adding that financial autonomy alone was being devolved to the provinces. Rabbani said such elements were misguiding the media and the nation regarding the HEC situation. Meanwhile, disagreeing with Rabbani’s statement HEC with the federal government, lawmakers of the PPP-led ruling coalition demanded the government complete the commission’s devolution.
Rabbani said the new regulation for the HEC would be introduced which would enable the HEC evaluate the performance of educational institutions and prescribe to them the standards under which institutions for higher and technical education should be operated. He said a new legislation regarding the Standard of Education Commission would be tabled in both the houses of parliament.
“Legislation is the duty of parliament and seeking a stay order before any legislation is tantamount to stopping parliament from its fundamental function,” Rabbani said, adding that parliament and the people of the country were protectors and guardians of the 18th and 19th amendments. He also said all state institutions should function while remaining within limits defined by the constitution. On the issue of the HEC, the minister said, “The chairman of the HEC and 12 vice chancellors of various universities were invited to the implementation commission, informing them that the role of the HEC would be different after the 18th Amendment and a new commission would implement the important functions of the present body”.
The delegation, headed by the HEC chairman, was told that their input would be incorporated while framing the rules and regulations of the proposed commission. He dispelled the impression that devolution of the HEC would devalue degrees, lower the standards or discontinue accreditation processes, adding that all such things were incorrect and baseless. The minister said all ongoing scholarships programmes of the HEC would not be affected by the devolution and the students studying abroad on the HEC scholarships need not worry. Rabbani said the HEC did not generate funds and the federal government had to provide funds for it, adding that per the devolution the same funds would now be routed through the NFC Award to provinces and subsequently to the universities falling within the provincial territories.
Earlier, speaking on a point of order Khurram Dastgir said the government had confused the issue of devolution by attaching the HEC with it. “The role of the HEC in funding was only of a post office and the Cabinet had not given the decision to devolve the HEC. MNA Pervaiz Khan said the ANP would oppose the guidelines of the Rabbani-led implementation commission and his party wanted complete devolution of the HEC in letter and spirit.
Aftab Sherpao said it was an excuse that provinces did not have the capacity, adding that it was a subterfuge because unless powers were given, no capacity could be built up.