Senate body directs HEC to avoid controversies

Senate Standing Committee on Education and Training Chairman Abdul Nabi Bangash on Wednesday directed HEC not to stir controversy because of one person and said that the issue should not be politicised.
The meeting was held at the Parliament House with Senator Bangash in the chair. The committee primarily focused its attention on the issue of extensions given to two MP scale officers of HEC.
The committee held a discussion on the issue of the former HEC ED Dr Sohail Naqvi’s termination. Bangash said that the committee would fully support HEC, but it should work within its constitutional domain.
Senator Afrasiab Khattak said that the previous HEC Ordinance was in contrast to the constitution and until a new ordinance was formed, it should follow the constitution and orders given by the prime minister.
He opined that HEC must abide by the federal cabinet’s decision taken on June 27, 2011, which defined the position of HEC. He said that a new draft law for HEC was pending and needed to be accelerated.
Senator Najma Hameed also said that the legal and constitutional position should be adhered to.
The committee took notice of allegations made in print media by former HEC Chairman Dr Atta-ur-Rehman.
Bangash asked HEC Chairman Dr Javed Laghari whether Atta-ur-Rehman’s allegations regarding the exploitation of HEC by parliamentarians were true, but Laghari categorically denied them. Laghari said that the HEC was not under pressure from any parliamentarian regarding the attestation of fake degrees, scholarship or any other illegal favour.
The federal minister informed the committee that stories floating about HEC and the removal of Dr Naqvi seemed to be a joke as the PM had stated that his extension was illegal.
He further informed the committee that the concerned ministry would soon advertise the post of executive director. The committee chairman directed HEC to advertise of the post of executive director.
The committee took strong notice of the non-payment of a 20 percent increase in salaries and shortfall in the budget for HEC. It recommended that all financial problems faced by universities, including salary raise and funds for research should be resolved at the earliest.