On November 28, 2012, after over 10 years of service to the Higher Education Commission (HEC), my father was unceremoniously and illegally asked to vacate his position. Since my father was appointed as per law by the full Board of Governors of the HEC, he cannot be relieved of his duties in this arbitrary manner. The HEC Ordinance itself specifies how and when the executive director can be removed and the way he has been removed is not one of the specified methods.
For now, the prime minister has assigned the job of the executive director of the HEC, to the secretary of the Ministry of Education and Trainings. This despite the fact that the HEC Ordinance says in black and white that the executive director shall be appointed by the Commission itself.
Since this article is about my father, people will probably assume that I am biased. If so, why don’t we start by looking at the performance of the HEC over the last 10 years.
As of today, the quality assurance system of Pakistan is universally appreciated, six universities in Pakistan are internationally ranked by QS Rankings and research publications have skyrocketed compared to the past. Along with this, the number of university campuses has increased from 168 to 258 while student enrolment has increased from 330,000 to over 1,000,000. In this expansion of students in the higher education space, there has been a particular focus on women, with the percentage of women enrolled in universities going up from 36 per cent to 46 per cent. Balochistan and Fata have also been a focus, with over 3,000 scholarships launched for their residents.
Perhaps, readers will think that my father is not qualified enough: after all, integrity alone isn’t going to solve our education problems. Let’s have a look then at his CV. To summarise, he graduated at Hasan Abdal at the top of his class, graduated from Purdue University with a perfect 4.0 GPA and after earning a PhD in refractive optics at the age of 25, was appointed a tenured professor all before the age of 30. He then helped start up a cutting-edge tech company before leaving the US to come back to Pakistan where he became the dean of electrical engineering at the GIK Institute of Science & Technology. Later, he became an adviser to the Ministry of Science and Technology.
At 50 years of age, he is only getting started. I have seen him pour his heart and soul into Pakistan’s higher education sector. He has fought for every bit of funding for the students of Pakistan, travelled from Gilgit to Karachi viewing institutions everywhere and taking advice on how to improve them. He has earned the respect of almost everyone he has come into contact with, whether they agree with him or not.
In between, he has taught me that being patriotic does not simply mean bellowing the national anthem at the top of your lungs; it means putting in long hours at a job when you know you could be making more money elsewhere. It means putting up with the misery of the politics in our country. It means finding ways of being optimistic when everything around you is crumbling. It means that when your own government tries to fire you for doing the right thing, you simply go home to help your youngest son with his homework that night.
Let me end with the most meaningful words of praise I’ve heard for my father. Those words came from Arif Kiyani, someone none of you have ever heard of. He first started work for the University Grants Commission in 1989 as a driver and has worked with my father for many years. One day, without my prompting, he said to me: “Sahab wo insaan hai jis ne aaj tak mujhe ‘tu’ tak nahi kaha”.
People say that the best way to judge a person’s character is to look at the way they treat people in a lesser position. So, if you want to judge my father, go ahead.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2012.
COMMENTS (86)
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Dr.sohailh naqvi is a great man.
Dear Shazil
I do not wish to insult your intelligence, but the above piece is totally abhorrent, in my opinion.
Before I come to the reasons why, let me first begin by stating the obvious. Any such appointment to a government body at such a level is political. I am not insuinating that your father has used safarish or anything. But let's be clear- you take such a job- you have to expect, one day (most likely when there is a change in regime) you will be sacked- you can't really honestly say that when Musharraf left office, that your dad thought he was going to remain and everything was hunky dory?
Now, the basis of your article:
I respectfully suggest that you are abusing your position. Your Chacha is an established member of the Express Tribune. No doubt, he may have arranged for you to write/publish the above piece. So tell us, Shazil, why should the Naqvi clan have the right (other than using their connections) to use a newspaper to voice their dissatisfaction over personal matters? What will we hear about next week, your Chacha Feisal has to queue for 10 minutes in Subway?If I had been sacked by my boss unfairly and illegally - which happens to lots of people every year around Pakistan- do I get to use a newspaper to voice my personal grievance? Of course not.
You guys are the elite in Pakistan- you are just abusing your positions. And how do I know you are the elite? I have seen your Chacha Feisal many times in the Royal Palm club, glass of wine in one hand and cigar in the other with his buddy, Ejaz Haider.
The matter is sub judice- so it is wholly improper for a newspaper to comment on ongoing legal proceedings. Your article is dated 1 December. This very newspaper published an article confirming a petition had been lodged at the Islamabad High Court seeking your father's reinstatement.
May be, rather than constantly complaining over the affairs of Pakistan, your family should either: (i) go back to the States or some other jurisdiction where the general atmosphere suits your needs and ethical stance; or (ii) attempt to make change to Pakistan, rather than hiding behind newspaper columns and pontificating from an ivory tower.
Your Chachas and your father, I presume, studied abroad (well we know one Chacha went to Yale Law according to his law firm's website, and you have confirmed your father did), so why doesn't your family attempt to use its knowledge to bring change and better Pakistan? This country is full of people like your family who sit around pontificating about who did what to whom and how unfair it is. So why not bring change - the reply often voiced "Well everyone is like this and we don't want to rock the boat".
This is Pakistan- tell us one thing that is 'fair' in life in Pakistan in the 21st Century. I find it unfair that the whole of Lahore road network is grid-locked thanks to our CM's vision, I don't sit around crying about it. You guys should "man-up"and get on with life. If your family do share the view above ("Well everyone is like this and we don't want to rock the boat"), then do what the rest of us do- shrug your shoulders and get on with life.You father has an education- he has connections - your family has money- I am sure you are not all going to be destitute tomorrow.The Government treated your dad unfairly- boo hoo. This Government has treated many millions unfairly and illegally- do we all get a public soapbox to complain? NO.......
@NAkhtar: If so many competent people exist in the country and can work strange it is still a Developing Country since 1947 worse than other developing countries of the world.
@Abdul Waheed: Unavaialablity of electricity, gas etc is not becaz of spread of higher education, this is no vision, strategy, planning and of course Interest of Govt, politicians and beaurcracy in Pakistan. What about BISP about which even World Bank and IMF have submitted dissatisfaction.
If Pakistan's young generation still keep silent and close their eyes for wrong decisions of their government, politicians and beauracrates, then after few years they will lose their country. Kicking out meritorious one placing "Apple of the Eye" means What, the generation must understand and resist.
I have gone through newspapers and understood that the regular employees of HEC are scared from the contractual competent employees working in the orgnaization. As far as I know the regular employees in any organization enjoy all perks that contractuals do not, most of all "Job Security" inspite of incomptenecy. My suggestion to them is to upgrade themselves through knowledge and skills and compete through merit in order to get higher grades. It is an eye as well as mind opening fact that contractual employees are most dedicated to their organziation and they deliver best thats why this culture flourished in Pakistan.
Emotionally well written but making any sense from Organizational perspective - a resounding NO.....
Increased publications having no impact on society whatsoever, increased campuses and universities producing graduates who are unable to write even a single paragraph of English properly.
HEC and Dr Sohail Naqvi was also part of the campus career portal scheme, video conferencing facilities, phd scholarship programs (whereas phd students should be capable enough to earn TAships and RAships in universities they are targeting). All of this put a useless burden on economy which was a big nonsense as it was exploiting public money with no end use.
Still, we must appreciate and admire that he is a genius in his own field and needs to excel in areas where he is already proven. There is a reason we have lifelong Professor emerituses and limited administrative tenures.
@ Liba , let the court decide what is legal and what is not . i have simple question if everybody is saying Dr. Naqvi tenure was wonderful so why don’t we let him do his job . This is very good that he has taken the stand otherwise if he would have resigned than the cruel people might have ruined this organization, if new sectary education was given additional charge just to reselect new ED than why he immediately started giving transfer orders of officers even very next day. It’s mean the game is set. They want to destroy autonomy of HEC.
Dear Shazil Naqvi: I appreciate your feelings for your father. I think sons should not interfere in Govt. matters. I see it a cheap effort. I did not expect this from an educated son of a highly educated person. We all see how illiterate Zardari places his son in international/national meetings and how Bilawal Zardari says" Democracy is the best revenge". You guys should not be in the same shoes. We all appreciate your fathers service to the nation but there are few issues here if you can justify them:
Can you explain how your father was selected for this position in first place? Was there any selection/interview process for your father's initial appointment? Do you think 10 years is not enough for a person in management? Do you think now this position permanently belongs to Naqvi family?There are many educated and qualified Pakistanis out there who can do this job and a change is always better for growth and development. Let the change happen (but not a BA pass bureaucrat). Though your father worked hard and is a qualified person but he is not inevitable. Now let others run for this position. I hope you understand.
Oh by the way a personal question if you don't mind. When you are coming back home to serve the country? I see HEC wants all educated Pakistanis to come back and serve Pakistan and you are serving Ireland. May be you are waiting for dad to retire so you can later replace him.
My comments may be harsh but are a reality. Sorry dude. There is nothing in this country for a person even having better qualifications than your father without military or political connections.
Great people do not need an office or titles to do great things. Look at Edhis, husband and wife team turning lives around daily without an office or titles for quite a few decades now. Dr Naqvi is an accomplished person but is he a great person if he needs the support of an office to do great and patriotic deeds, especially if there are claims that he tried to circumvent regulation to hang on to that office. The list of great things he can do is endless and none of them require an office and staff (e.g., a chauffeur) on tax payer's expense.
@how come:
"The son has written a tribute, so questioning the son’s credentials is not out of place. " That's very strange...the article is about the father's professional conduct. Where the son chose to go to university has no relevance at all!
The son choosing to go to university abroad does not show that the father " did not trust the universities in Pakistan to give a good education to his own son". Maybe the father did not even choose, maybe the son wanted to study a subject not available in Pakistan, maybe the father knew all too well the shortcomings of the system he was fighting to change, and who knows, maybe the father just did not want his son getting the unfair beneficial treatment in a Pakistani university that would come with his position at the HEC? My point is, there are too many possible factors at play here to make the assumption that the father didn't trust the system so he 'sent' his son abroad.
@S K Afridi:
Dr. Naqvi can best serve higher education in the country for next 10 years as he is the most competent, dynamic, brilliant man and an honest one.
Dr. Naqvi can best serve HEC for next 10 years to uplift higher education in the country as he is the most competent, dynamic, brilliant and honest man.
democracy is the best revenge!! HEC among other institution has never been a priority of this or most Pakistani govts!
i think what the writer is trying to explain is disguised under his passion and love for his dad! in actuality all here agree that Dr. Sohail Naqvi is a great person with many contribution to HEC, instead of being honored and acknowledging his many years of service, he was unceremoniously and illegally dismissed off his post, his successor, a political appointed, perhaps incompetent fool who would more like not being on merit undo Dr sb and his team's sincere keen efforts for higher education in Pakistan! Dr Sb. has been added to along list of unacknowledged sincere professionals who haven't been allowed to a) fully use their capabilities and qualifications in promoting education at any level in Pakistan (thanks to which look where we stand?) b) at the end of their careers they are usually made out to be an example of what merit means to to failed govt and what happens to people working for right priorities for their nation!
the question is do we ever acknowledge appreciate raise voice for and praise our intellectual and cultural erudite on merit anyway, until it hits personally and bitterly?
Dr. Naqvi can serve HEC, higher education and country for next 10 years as he is the most competent, dynamic and brilliant person. If a person is doing execllent why he should be sacked like this, Let him work.
I only pray to God and request people of Pakistan to be merciful and not to ever give PPP another chance to rule us... they are just on a faster track to destroy Pakistan, HEC on target this time... Can you believe they've not built even a single road in this 5 year tenure!!! loot-mar is the only item on their agenda!!
@hotshot: "dude if the system was so goood why did you go abroad to study.." This is ridiculous. Where a person chooses to study is their personal choice. Studying abroad does not show contempt for his own country. Didn't his father study abroad and return to Pakistan at the prime of his career to serve his country? Even if the quality of education in Pakistan and abroad are similar, it is good to learn the work ethic of more efficient work environments abroad to apply and teach in Pakistan. You will agree that it is needed. The father's profession is the topic, personal attacks on the son are unnecessary.
@Abid P Khan: I always enjoy your posts. Thank you.
The writer recently graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and is currently working in Ireland........hahaha....dude if the system was so goood why did you go abroad to study..
@Abdul Waheed: "................Dr Atta ur Rehman and Sohail Naqvi were responsible for this bad planning extravagent expenditure of this poor country." . Having very little grasp of the pecking order at HEC, am curious to learn about the contribution of the Bossman Laghari himself. Even if he was busy collecting snapshots for his Dear Album, whatever time was leftover, did he then just sit there and twirl his thumbs?
.My Dear Album
Every Sun has a rise, every birth has a death, and every employee should say adieu after (60) or in case when the 'limitless extensions' come to a limit. Naqvi sahab 4th extension is over in September this year (also 8 years stint as per authorised by the Comission). Now he should sing swansong rather to invite public fury only to sabotage his past illustrious career in HEC service. Thanx Naqvi sb!
@Abdul Waheed: " ....Dr Atta ur Rehman and Sohail Naqvi were responsible for this bad planning extravagent expenditure of this poor country. " . Not knowing much about the pecking order at HEC, am eager to know what role did the Bossman Leghari play, in all this? Just twirl his thumbs, in the time that was left after pasting pictures in his album? . Dear Album
15000 students mostly sons / daughters / near relatives of influential persons / Bureacrats were sent abroad for higher studies at the expense of poor people of Pakistan when government has no money to produce electricity which is causing unemployment due to closing down of factories. Dr Atta ur Rehman and Sohail Naqvi were responsible for this bad planning extravagent expenditure of this poor country.
@Sanam Hayat: Dr. Hoodbhoy himself is a highly controversial person. LUMS has already thrown him out of their faculty. He is a knowledgeable person with doubtful credentials. During his talks he gives an impression of being an Indian scholar talking to the people of Pakistan.
Dr. Sohail Naqvi is the most dynamic and competent person to drive HEC for the next 10 years also towards right direction& success. He is a dadicated worker and he proved. If a person is doing excellent for Higher Education of the country why should these attempts be taken in our country to put it at risk where every institution is getting worse day by day.
He should just forget HEC and work in a private University or Company. I am sure with his credentials, he should not have any problem
@SAM: i fail to understand why you would react like this. He wrote an article supporting his father, in what he feels was an unjust move. the paper published it. to be honest i think this is the most civil protest one can perform and he has every right to do this.
Or would you rather have protests in the streets, death threats and the like?
For once a person is using his education and abilities to highlight a problem and defend his father in a civilised manner and he is coming under criticism.
God help this country
@Concerned Pakistani: your accusations astound me. I know for a fact that Mr. Sohail Naqvi did not ask Shazil to do this. take your backward, Indian soap-opera mind elsewhere. how one can accuse someone of something like that is shocking. Concerned Pakistani? not by a long shot.
btw, what was that high-tech start-up that he help start? was it pro-bono work or he runs a successful tech firm that we don't know about? Or else was it just thrown in to make his accomplishments outside of academia meaningful also?
Dear Shazil, From 2007-2009, my husband worked with Dr. Sohail Naqvi on several occasions, and has nothing but praise for your father's dedication, hard work and total commitment to advancing higher education in Pakistan. For honest and upright people like Dr Naqvi to be removed unceremoniously, in spite of their major contributions, by an unappreciative government is almost like a badge of honor in Pakistan! It puts your father in league with other great Pakistanis like Abdus Salam. Sohail showed just the right attitude by going home and helping your younger brother with his homework. Disappointing and sad as this incident is, I hope it will not leave you embittered. In time the HEC will recognize its loss, and I hope that someone in government with conscience will have the good sense to recommend Dr Naqvi for the civil award that he deserves.
Ah, so your Dad Sohail Naqvi (whom you forgot to name in the article by the way) had improved the higher education sector in Pakistan so much - not just quantity but quality. Yet he sent you to University of Michigan instead of one of the wonderful institutions within Pakistan that he had created. What's wrong with this picture?
You also forgot to mention that your Dad had been in that position for 10 years and was moved only when his term expired instead of granting him an extension. SO this is not an act of vindictiveness against a Musharraf appointee. HAd it been so, your father would have been removed soon after PPP government took charge.
@Azra: "...distributed by politicians the way they in benazir income support program...." . Once PPP can afford it, why can't the needy be helped financially by a political party?.
Young lad did you study at a Pakistani University? If yes than your father is indeed a great man.....but if you like a spoilt rich brat studied at a foreign university than you have no right to eulogize your father. Indeed a shame for Express Tibune for giving importance to an insipid article.
Who is your father? I mean at least put his name!
Dear Mr. Shazil Naqvi,
I can understand your feelings. There is no doubt that your father is a great scientist. He worked a lot for the promotion of Higher Education. I appreciate his dedication and passion.
But it is very unfortunate that most of the things happened with General Musharraf are also happened with your father. Your father was installed in the Public Sector by the Army. General Musharraf tried to buy a third term by misusing his power and resources unlawfully. Similarly, Your father tried to buy his third term by misusing his power and resources unlawfully. He being Secretary of the Board (Commission) and also member of the board called a meeting of the Commission members to get his appointment for a period of 4 years and ultimately he managed it through hook or crook.
You will be astonished to know that no Executive Director/ member of the commission can be appointed in any case more than a period of 8 years but your father had been working in HEC for more than 10 years. His last term was completed on 15 Sept.2012. That is why, Your father announced everywhere that he would not work more in HEC after after completion of term on 15 September,2012.Therefore, in compliance of the decision of the Commission ,the position of Executive Director was announced in the press and the last date to receive the application was 28th August,2012. Moreover, NOC for ban lifting was also obtained from the Govt. But he misused his position and called the meeting of the Commission to get his appointment for a period of 4 years on 27th August,2012 without getting any interview of other candidates. Another bitter fact is that the decision was not unanimous. Few of the members were not influenced by your father and gave the decision against your father. But in the minutes,your father shown that the decision was unanimous.Eventually, the members wrote the letters to the President of Pakistan and Prime Minister of Pakistan against this decision. Media flashed the stories in leading news papers and Prime Minister took the notice of it and asked the Chairman to hold the process of the extension of your father on September,03,2012. Again your father misused his position and got the extension on September,07,2012 by defying the orders of the Prime Minister. Standing Committee on Education took this irregularity seriously.Media also flashed the stories against your father.After inquiry by the Establishment Division , your father was found guilty of it and eventually he was removed and forced to leave the position which was occupied by him illegally after completion of his term.
Now another wrong doing by your Mother is that she is taking part in the protest against the Govt. to save the job of the your father. You can see the picture of your mother in today's 'Nation' news papers.
So,you being a son,play your role and request your father to leave the HEC without any bloodshed. It would be much better for your family and for HEC also.Some one is playing with your family who is asking your father to fight the case in the Supreme Court. Right now,your father has become a most controversial figure in HEC. Even,if he gets stay order from the Court even then no body will obey your father
I hope you will be satisfied what I said.
@Kanwal: Don't get so worked up. I think it is a very clever way of saving money for the state. Why waste money on education, once even a jaahil can become president of the country?
If we didn't have one son ruining the image of his father in the form of Arslan Iftikhar out comes Shazil Naqvi with a ridiculous article showing the abject state of affairs at Tribune, who decided to give it on the top list of articles for the day.
This speaks volumes for the standard of journalism, an op ed by a son for his father this is extremely sad and pathetic, I have lost respect for Tribune. HEC was marred by controversies during Dr Atta and Sohail Naqvi's golden years during a dictator's rule. Ask Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy he will shed light on the greatness of this young lad's father's great achievements
@Plagiarism Hunter: "...Many good actions and one bad action has created this situation....." . Gaya shaytaan maara eyk sijdey keh nah karney meyN .Agar laakhoN baras sijdey meyN sar maara tow kya maara
I posted very fair comment. Why didnt you post it?
@Sehr: I stand corrected and withdraw my comment. He was not the Chairman to begin with, he was the Executive Director, to whom a different section of the Ordinance applies.
Section 11 states that the Executive Director shall be appointed for a period of 4 years, but does not expressly allow, prohibit or limit extensions, and I am not aware of what the practice at the HEC is in this regard.
@Concerned Pakistani: Its a move which politicians have been palannig for the last many years. If they suceed in doing so we will see the scholarship being distributed by politicians the way they in benazir income support program. its a move to save the scholar ships from the talented youth for the incompetent sons and daughters of politicians and beurocrates. May allah save HEC from the cluthes of politicians and beurocrates.
@mahmood: yeah, this nation is also going to be part of graveyard very soon, by destroying a fully functional institution like HEC. What a pathetic thinking by quoting a famous words in wrong situation
@getbacktowork: Its a move which politicians have been palannig for the last many years. If they suceed in doing so we will see the scholarship being distributed by politicians the way they in benazir income support program. its a move to save the scholar ships from the talented youth for the incompetent sons and daughters of politicians and beurocrates. May allah save HEC from the cluthes of politicians and beurocrates.
I still remember u from the GIKI days. You have grown into a fine gentleman and look just like your dad. Dr. Naqvi has always taken the difficult road. Leaving a tenure position to take up a job at GIKI, fighting corruption and political pressure to uphold the pricipled stance on which HEC was built. Unfortunately in doing so he made lot of enemies both politicians and academicians alike. While I wouldn't expect anything else from the corrupt politicians; unfortunately intellects of Dr. Hoodbhay's caliber also loved taking a stab at HEC and Dr. Naqvi. But he stood firm. While I may disagree with some of HEC policies; but ur father's sincerity and honesty is unquestionable.
Only Pervaiz Musharaf and Sohail Naqvi can stoop to such depths to ask their sons - Bilal Musharaf and Shazil Naqvi - to defend their fathers' records.
Can the son tell us what were the credentials of Mr. Sohail Naqvi to become the Executive Director of HEC in the first place?
Did Sohail Naqvi have experiece of leading a university? Or did he have the educational qualifications to lead the apex higher education policy making body in Pakistan? A lot of mistakes made by HEC over the years - in particular its the 'indigenous PhD Program' - but also its arrogance and lack of communication can be put on Sohail Naqvi's arrogant and dictatorial styles.
The only 'credential' he had when becoming Executive Director of HEC was being a close relative of General Tanvir Naqvi who happened to be Musharraf's buddy. It is time this country rid of such nefarious Musharraf era influence.
Let the 'individual' bow down so that the institution live. Nobody is indespensible, not even Sohail Naqvi or Atta ur Rahman.
Hey guys...the only reason is bcz HEC gets Rs 100 million ( against aid & grants ) apart from govt budget & Dr Sohail had been resisting to surrender this amount to the federal govt for a long time ( 4.5 yrs ), now the govt need this amount for election & hence, want to put somebody of their choice...obviously....
@S K Afridi:
You may be right, but how many from that 180 million people educated enough to take such important position ? second, has there been any appointment on merit by this govt in 4.5 years ? & yet some people think that an equally good person of Dr Sohail Naqvi will take over ?
some high-up in Higher Education Commission sending his own son to another country for higher studies? ironic,perhaps surprising? Nope.
Young man, please pause and think if all the far too many cases of academic cheating like substandard degrees, plagiarism, fake publications, granting degree awarding status to substandard institutions with obvious commercial motive, etc., are not a result of the policies crafted by your father and his erstwhile boss Atta ur Rahman. He refused to take action when the heavily plagiarized and nonsensical PhD thesis on physics of chromotherapy was exposed by learned people. In that episode, he was guilty of promoting woodoo science. No, Young Man, like a good lad you idealize your father, but he was far from being a saint.
So your dad works pro bono??. Care to share the salary he draws along with perks for 10 freakin years...
@gp65: I am a PTI supporter and I think he should leave now. 10 years is a bit too much. Seconldy, this article is blog material NOT an article in a newspaper.(hey ET guys, what the heck are you thinking?) IT is was ,then a counter narrative should have been provided as well.
Wake up ET!!!
The graveyards are full of indispensible people
i've met dr sohail naqvi and can say that he's a driven and intelligent person. i think it's fairly obvious that the legal/illegal aspect of this is secondary: there are political reasons for removing him, obviously a more well-connected person wants the job. in a pakistan where so much is crumbling and corroding, i can only wish that politicians leave this institution alone and let dr naqvi carry on the good work.
No one is inevitable. However, those who did service to this country should not be disgraced. Sohail Naqvi could have been offered some other position.
We all know that Dr. Naqvi had done a good job in HEC but it will be unfair to others if we assume that no one else in this country of 185 million can do a better job. So let us hope that his replacement is also selected on merit.
@sarah You are right may be legally it is correct that the PM can remove him.Probably it is not 'why' it is done which Shazil is contesting but rather 'how'. If a honest, hard working, competent person is removed unceremoniously to be replaced by a political appointment, it hurts more. I hope you get it from where I am coming. But otherwise I agree with you 10 years is enough a time for an ED.
Worry point should not be removal of Dr.Naqvi but rather appointment of a retired major/bureaucrat to ensure quality of higher education in Pakistan!
His removal from HEC is not a good news. Just like they removed Dr. Attaur Rahman.
I think no Pakistani can match my father.ET should earmark an OP-ED space daily for those sons who want to pay tributes to their fathers.
A government amongst one of whose first actions was to remove the graduation requirement for becoming a member of our LEGISLATIVE assemblies could not do better than appoint an army major to head such a prestigious organization after removing some with Faisal Naqvi's background. This clearly shows how much do they care about education. Education is amongst the lowest priorities of the people who are in power these day and why not. Look at their backgrounds and how they get into our national legislatures. Education is not needed for how they get elected and ultimately what they do, when they get elected. These feudals and waderas would much rather keep the people uneducated, otherwise how will they enjoy the perks of power. A wast majority of them are Dasti's of kind or another. And please do not repeat this "parliament is supreme mantra"; we have had enough of this ridiculous argument to justify, incompetence, corruption and favoritism; we have had enough of it.
With regards to your father's tenure:
Section 6(5) of the HEC Ordinance states, "The Chairperson shall hold office for a period of four years and shall in no case be eligible for re-appointment for more than one similar term"
With a 10 year term, he exceeded his lawful tenure by 2 years. Since he was unlawfully holding office - irrespective of how valuable his contribution was - the method of his removal loses importance.
I salute your father for his contribution, which even without this article everyone was well aware of. You should not be resentful of his removal, he had exceeded his lawful tenure. You should be proud of the heroic battle he fought among a malicious bureaucracy and succeeded, setting a rare example.
He would've set another rare example if he had refused to exceed his lawfully permitted tenure.
Your father has done great job. He is true leader but what he was supposed to do was to follow Merit and Rules of the HEC for regularisation of contractual employees which he did not. He was deceived by the Administration of the HEC and so called MP scale Advisers and DGs. We know Dr. Sohail H. Naqvi has done great job of changing whole state of Higher Education in Pakistan. He is practical person no doubt but fault lies that he never tried to act realistically during the previous three four months. He just relied on the opinion of the so called experts which unfortunately compelled law of nature to act in a way which is very disgusting. Everyone respects Musharaff because of many good actions but due to two three bad actions on the recommendation of then advisers he lost his credibility. Same case is here, Many good actions and one bad action has created this situation. Govt. has broken this organization through its internal politics and people who were near to him convinced him to even do such actions which were not expected from person like Dr. Sohail. Media is always showing one side of the picture, I would say we need to see whole picture and have to analyse why this happened?
@Sarah -- the reason why the HEC did not call candidates despite advertising the post is because the Govt imposed a ban on all fresh recruitment. The HEC's choices were therefore either to give Dr Naqvi an extension or to function without its CEO. You are right in noting that the PM appoints the Chairman of the HEC. But the PM does not, repeat not, appoint the Executive Director. Instead, the HEC Ordinance specifies that the ED is appointed by the Commission itself. The law was deliberately written in this manner so as to make the HEC autonomous and independent. It is that independence which is now under threat.
@watayo -- Seriously? Are you really saying that every person appointed between 1999 and 2007 should be fired, irrespective of their credentials and their performance?
@Parvez: "but you have not indicated as to why the government decided to do this. Another thing I missed was your fathers full name."
What I have gathered by reading relevant news articles is that his father's full name is Sohail Naqvi. HE had been appointed by Musharraf and served in his current capacity for 10 years. He was seeking an extension which was denied.
The interesting thing is that the same PTI people who saw nothing wrong in Hoodbhoy losing his job at LUMS when the contract expired because it was legal (even though Hoodbhoy is a noted physicist) are out in full force to to condemn this because Imran has condemned this even though here there is no illegality. YEs when the matter comes to merit that is a very different thing and certainly I as an Indian am not in any position to comment. But I do see the discrepancy in how the 2 cases were treated.
He is your father,one can understand your feelings. But this is the world ,particlualry,its a Pakistan, nothing is eternal.Ultimately man has to go.Ten years of his services are enough. Pakistan has several talented peopel, but the governmnet choose her own brain.What can we do for Sohal Naqvi.?
Its a shame that people who sacrificed so much for this nation are mistreated and insulted by this corrupt government.
Dr Sohail Naqvi is a real asset for Pakistan. I am really sad to know about his banishment from HEC, being a son your words might sound prejudice but I have met your father several times. He does possess more than what you wrote, your words are really inadequate to express Dr Sb Personality and conduct. Same on Decision Makers !!!!
When nepotism and corruption run high, expecting any good from Govt is like just making castles in air. In many universities of Sindh, most incompetent VCs but Govt loyalists have been appointed. They serve only interests of Masters but education is in crisis.For many Months, teachers and students observed strikes against corrupt and incompetent authorities of those Sindh based Public universities, all no vain for obvious reasons. Education is not PPP led Allied Govt. When Education suffers in a country, the dream to a prosperous and progressive country becomes more difficult.
Your father has one thing very bad which spoils his CV: He beleives and acts on merit without getting pressure from Political Parties of Pakistan. So your father has no value or lobby in power arena of Pakistan. Actually your father is not the only thing from which they want to get rid off. Actually these political morons don't want to spread higher education in masses as it could be very dangerous to their political destinies. Being a Sindi from my father and Punjabi from my mother side, I want you to make it clear to your father that Punjab and Sindh masses are with you. We will come on road for him because he gave his 10 years with so much dedication for higher education in Pakistan.
It will be a tragedy if a highly qualified and honest person is shown the door. PPP government is well-known for incompetency and corruption, but at-least leave this institution in able hands as it has the potential to push and prod Pakistan in the right direction. I think the courts should be moved if something illegal has been done. Assuming whatever you have said is true about your father, I salute him. We need a lot more people like him to steer the country away from the cliff.
Agree with you there. The PPP government is again trying their best to get the uneducated and daft people back into power with these illegal antics.
Since we have run seriously run out of scientists, technocrats and of course honesty, we need to bring a retired Major in to take care of the higher education of this country. I personally know enough people who would know about the higher than this guy. But again, its Zardari-times. which means bye bye to education for poor, bring in the parchees, and making sure all the people heading all major institutions/ministries of this country are incapable of running them. Wanna destroy a country? ok, make incompetent people heads of all the long-term planning institutions. Specially education. We have nt got much left for destruction in Pakistan anyway and Bilawal & likes go to Oxford. So why worry?
we support your father. what i dont understand is the motive for this move by the government. not much explanation in any news item.
I liked way you wrote this without over dramatising your fathers achievements but you have not indicated as to why the government decided to do this. Another thing I missed was your fathers full name.
Dude, what's your father's name?
Another vestige of Military dictatorship is gone. Your father was appointed by a dictator, who usurped people's power. Your father was a stooge in that system. An anomoly redressed
PPP is insane, Bring Back HEC Superman.
The lad doth protest too much.
Dr. Sohail Naqvi is really a great person, Pakistanin general and this govt. in particular does not know how to value and use its potential..!
All you say is well and good, but dont you think ten years as the executive in a govt dept is a bit over the top? that too in a govt institution? that too after HEC floated ads for vacancies but failed to call anyone as a potential candidate? please dont say they couldnt find anyone educated enough in pakistan in the ten years Dr Sohail was the HEC ED.He did a marvellous job with HEC, maybe now its time he should've graciously stepped back and allowed someone else to take the reins. The ordinance you linked in this article states in chap 2 clause 5 that the controlling authority shall appoint the chairperson, the controlling authority being the prime minister. His extension had not been approved by the prime minister and was thus removed, i fail to see the illegality of this.