Civil society, student organisations protest against violation of merit in HEC chief’s appointment
A large number of members of the civil society and students’ organizations held protest against alleged violation of merit in appointment of Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairman and demanded reviewing the decision in the larger interest of country and the education sector.
During the protest held outside Islamabad Press Club (IPC), the protestors demanded appointments of heads of autonomous organisations to be made in accordance of prescribed laws through transparent and merit-based mechanism. The demonstrators displayed placards and chanted slogans for merit-based appointment of the HEC chief.
The demonstrators termed the appointment of the new HEC chief as violation of Islamabad High Court (IHC) verdict of January 6, 2014 wherein the federal government was directed to make the appointment of regular HEC chairman as per HEC Act and prescribed process.
The protestors announced to expand peaceful demonstrations throughout the country in case of non-acceptance of their demands. They also termed surprise appointment of new HEC chairman as injustice with the leading and senior academicians who were waiting for interview and completion of selection process.
Addressing the protest demonstration Muslim Hands International Country Manager Syed Ziaul Noor expressed reservations over the violation of merit and misleading prime minister for appointment of the chairman. He said that people not only in Pakistan but around the world were expecting for transparent and merit-based appointment of the new chairman of HEC as per federal government‘s principles of merit, transparency and good governance. However, some elements misguided prime minister over this important matter and the name of the person, who had earlier been rejected by prime minister, has been reconsidered for important and prestigious position of HEC chairperson.
It is quite strange that few days earlier, the Islamabad High Court was informed by federal government that summary for three persons including the name of new nominated chairperson HEC had been rejected and new search committee headed by Khawaja Muhammad Asif had been assigned the task for appointment of HEC chairperson.
He said that the future of young generation of Pakistan and higher education sector is dependent upon the right policies and decisions of HEC. Only qualified, non-controversial, sincere and honest leadership of HEC could solve their problems.
I am speechless , but scribe I must:
" Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient into the day is the Evil thereof"
King James Bible ' Authorized version' Cambridge Edition
There was always something amiss with the appointment of Chairman HEC since the relinquishment of charge by Dr Legari way back in August 2013. A non Ph.D took over on acting charge basis which was confusion worse confounded. The basic qualification for a public sector university's VC is a Ph.D( strangely enough a Ph.D from abroad, despite the fact since that feather in his/her cap the would be VC may have rested on his/her invisible laurels) barring a few notable exceptions. But Chairman HEC who lords over all 150 VCs ruling the roost sans PhD , was/is unthinkable. Then there were a series of Interviews, some convened some scuttled. The joke became tiresome and as it was being played on the educationists by fake degree holders it became sinister. A selection committee was formed–the candidates went through the grill presenting themselves for being taken apart by mere graduates. Shortlisting was done –three names were sent to the bewigged PM, and now it was his turn to turn truant so he rejected all three. The Convener of the erstwhile Committee now became theatrical like a Cleopatra and refused to have any truck with the PM. So the PM in his infinite wisdom, clouded if not exactly shrouded, formed/framed a new Committee . Meanwhile , their Lordships the Judges of the IHC- who had/have nothing better to do than take suo moto notices, suddenly woke up and ordered that the vacant seat be filled in a fortnight . Post haste the PM complied and appointed Dr Mukhtar Ahmed , perhaps because he was already under the cloud for securing dual degrees in one academic year and a writ was admitted challenging that "achievement" in the IHC. Now we have the cut and thrust going on and it will not be wished away. By the by the Provinces, given the divine right of devolution, started winging their way up and forming their own hECs with the Chairman of the rank of a Minister , Testing times ahead for the HEC , its Chairman and its non existent ED. All seems to be utterly rotten in IRP. God be with this unfortunate Islamic Republic. I always smelled a rat or perhaps even several of their genre —does anyone else as well?
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