The National Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed an amendment bill about National University of Science and Technology (NUST) amid protest and slogans of opposition members.
Opposition members accused the government of tabling the amendment in the House just to facilitate its blue-eyed people. They warned the government that eligible people would start leaving the country if it does not stop promoting nepotism in education sector.
Minister of Climate Change Zahid Hamid advised opposition not to level allegations and said that NUST is one of the leading universities of the world. He added that under the bill, the university board has been given authority to hire professors, directors etc. The Chief Executive of NUST is the Chief of Army Staff therefore merit would not be violated, he added.
Shireen Mizari and Naveed Qamar in separate addresses termed the amendment against the national and educational interest and said that appointments should be made on merit. They further said that high officials of the university should be appointed through open merit.
PTI’s Shafqat Mahmood said that other universities would follow suit it if this example was set for NUST. The government should not violate the law if it wants to assume the charge of rector to its blue-eyed, he added.
Mahmood Khan Achakzai of PKMAP advised the government to advertise the slot of rector in national dailies, adding that government should take care in this regard otherwise a bad example would be set.
Earlier, voting was conducted on the bill. About 61 votes in favor and 33 against the bill were casted respectively.
