Higher Education Commission Chairman Dr Javaid Leghari on Wednesday wrote a letter to the prime minister and requested him to restore the institutional autonomy of the HEC as it had been badly affected by the 18th constitutional amendment.
“HEC is of the view that the situation created after the 18th amendment was detrimental to HEC’s institutional autonomy,” the letter said.
“HEC was established as an autonomous organisation under Ordinance No LIII of 2002, promulgated on September 11 of that year. But the 18th constitutional amendment has damaged the institution’s autonomy by distributing its functions amongst different ministries and departments,” the letter said.
The letter also stated that these alterations were challenged in the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the apex court has said, “HEC shall continue to discharge its functions and duties as it has been doing in the past unless and until a fresh legislation is promulgated; and in case of any conflict, the ordinance shall prevail.”
Referring to a decision of the Sindh High Court which placed HEC under the administrative and financial control of the Ministry of Education and Training, the letter said that the apex court had disposed of the ruling.
Violation of the orders of apex court and the Sindh High Court were brought to the notice of the prime minister and the premier was requested to restore the status of the commission as held in the ordinance in order to strengthen the institution’s autonomy.