ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC), which is supposed to be a role model for other institutions of Pakistan, is often in the news for all the wrong reasons, especially in regard to violation of its own standard rules.
In the latest example of blatant violation of rules, HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, who is going to retire in April next, had made an appointment in BPS-21 in blatant violation of the HEC rules.
The HEC chairman appointed Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi (PMAS AAUR) Quality Control Director (BPS-21) Professor Dr Riaz Ahmad as HEC Quality Assurance Advisor (BPS-21) on deputation basis for a period of one year. The post had been vacant since the last three years and was being run on ad hoc basis.
According to the notification, a copy of which is available with Pakistan Today, “In pursuance of HRM Division’s letter No. 19 (54) HRM-General/2017/HEC/2013 dated 08-12-2017 and after relieving from Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, vide notification dated 26-12-2017, Professor Dr Riaz Ahmad, Director Quality Control (BPS-21) PMAS AAUR has joined HEC as Advisor (BPS-21) w.e.f. 01-01, 2018 on deputation basis for a period of one year or till the appointment of a regular advisor (BPS-21), whichever is earlier on the terms and conditions to be mutually settled later on.”
The notification read that he was posted in Quality Assurance and the notification was issued with the approval of the competent authority. The post of Quality Assurance advisor was of great importance as the department had to look into the cases of plagiarism and blacklisted faculty, NOC for M.Phil, HEC recognised journals, faculty appointment criteria, tenure track statutes and other important matters.
According to HEC employees (Recruitment) Rules, 2009, S.R.O. 822 (1)/2009 – In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 12 (2) of HEC Ordinance, No 1 III of 2002, the commission in its meeting held 27-06-2009 vide item No 6, make the following rules regulating the recruitment of persons to be HEC, namely:-
- Short title, Application and Commencement-(i) These rules may be called the HEC employees (Recruitment) Rules, 2009.
(ii) They shall come into force at once and shall apply to all the employees in complete employment of the commission working in the head office, regional centres, MP scales and projects.
Appointment/promotion to various posts in the commission shall be as specified in Schedule-IV to these rules.
(2) Where an appointing authority for BPS-18 and below does not accept the recommendations of the selection committee, it shall record reasons therefore and obtain orders of the next higher authority.
- Appointing Authority:- MP-Scales and BPS-19/equivalent and above has been appointed by the commission. BPS-17 to 18 and equivalent could be appointed by the Chairman HEC. BPS-11 to 16 and equivalent could be appointed by Executive Director and BPS-1 to 10 could be done by Member (Q&P).
When this scribe contacted HEC Media Director Ayesha Ikram, she said that the HEC chairman had the power to make appointments at BPS-21 and it was not against the commission’s rules and regulations.
However, when asked that according to the HEC recruitment policy, the chairman could only make appointments of BPS-17 to 18 and equivalent, she replied that, ‘Someone has been feeding you the wrong information.” But when asked if she had HEC recruitment policy documents to share, Ayesha said that no such documents were available with her.
She said that Dr Riaz Ahmad would work according to the set rules and regulations of the commission, as there was a strict check and balance system which did not allow any wrongdoing by employees.
“The HEC cannot make appointments against the set rules, as it will be tantamount to providing an excuse to others to criticise the commission. Therefore, we are doing everything according to the HEC set rules and regulations,” she added.
About the question of not making a permanent appointment, she said that the post had been advertised but no appropriate candidate applied for the post, adding that Dr Riaz Ahmad had been appointed because he had the relevant experience.
However, a senior official in HEC said that the chairman could not make such an appointment on his own, as only the commission is authorised to make an appointment on such a high position.
He said that since the head of Quality Assurance was of paramount importance, hence, there was need to make a permanent appointment, adding that at present over 100 plagiarism cases were pending with the body.
Besides, the official said that on one hand, the Supreme Court was discouraging such deputation and even sent back several high officials back to their parent departments, while on the other hand, HEC was pursuing a different policy altogether.
The official further said that since HEC was responsible for maintaining the standard of hundreds of universities, unfortunately, the commission high ups violated the rules themselves, as most of the officials who were appointed on deputation in the commission were brought from various institutions, thus leading to a conflict of interests.
