ISLAMABAD:
After a passage of 12 days, a summary for the appointment of the heads of three varsities has finally been forwarded to President Mamnoon Hussain.
On Thursday, Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Balighur Rehman and the secretary signed off on list with nine names shortlisted.
A seven-member panel was tasked with interviewing candidates for vice-chancellors for Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) and Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and a rector for the International Islamic University (IIUI). The interviews were held between August 28 and 30 at the ministry.
The ongoing protests by Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on the Constitution Avenue, however, delayed the dispatch for almost two weeks, sources said.
The president will finalise three names from the list. The appointments have been pending for more than six months.
According to an official in the ministry, of the nine names, acting IIUI Rector Masoom Yasinzai is expected to be given the chance to drop the word acting from his job title, Shahid Siddiqi, brother of Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on National Affairs Irfan Siddiqui, is expected to get the AIOU job, although Mian Iqbal also has a good chance. Muhammad Ashraf was interviewed by the panelists via Skype from Paris, France. He is considered to be the strongest candidate for the Quaid-e-Azam University post. The minister told The Express Tribune that they tried to select the best of the best for these varsities. “Hopefully the president will sign off in a day or two,” he remarked.
The panel had set 75 marks for each candidates and shortlisted the candidates after examining their academic and administrative experiences, achievements and other professional credentials.
Former Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) vice-chancellor Dr Masoom Yasinzai was appointed IIUI acting rector in February. Yasinzai had been holding the additional charge of IIUI rector for the last two years.
Former Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) vice-chancellor Dr Nazir Ahmed Sangi retired in March 2014 and Dr Asghar Ali Chishti has been given the acting charge of vice-chancellor since then.
Senior QAU faculty member Dr Etizaz Ahmad has been filling in as VC on acting charge since Yasinzai retired in February.
The search committee was headed by Rehman along with the education secretary, HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, former federal secretary Dr UAG Essani, former State Bank governor Dr Ishrat Hussain, Comsats Rector Junaid Zaidi and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission member Dr Sara Safdar.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 13th, 2014.
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You have written a good essay on him and how much he money he has given you in this regard means even we don't know him. And the thing is why is the brother of PMs special assistant. Means other Pakistani are not talented enough.
I believe that this culture should be banned. Likewise in developing countries their is a rule of not having any relative of currently gov official eligible for these posts. Be fair in all deeds because Allah is watching us and we will be punished on the day of judgment.
Dr Shahid Siddiqui has a strong profile, excellent professional background and widely respected for his professionalism, integrity and remarkable contributions towards Education. I do believe that under his leadership, AIOU will transform into a world-class learning centre. — Dr Shahid Siddiqui obtained his Ph.D. in Language Education from University of Toronto, Canada, M.Ed. TESOL from University of Manchester, U.K., and MA English Language and Literature from the University of Punjab. He has been involved with Educational system of Pakistan in various capacities for 30 years as a teacher, teacher educator, and researcher. Dr. Siddiqui has taught in some prestigious universities including the Aga Khan University, GIK Institute for Engineering Sciences and Technology, Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), and Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU). Currently He is working as a Professor and Director of Centre for Humanities and Social Sciences in Lahore School of Economics. He has presented in a number of national and international conferences and has published in national and international journals. Some of his publications include: Rethinking Education in Pakistan: Perceptions, Practices, and Possibilities (2007), ‘Educational Innovation for Sustainable Teacher Development, Educational Awakening’, Journal of the Educational Sciences, Vol. 1, No. 1, p. 61-80, 2004; ‘Commodification of Education’. Educate: Quarterly on Development and Education. Issue No. 3, Vol. No.3, 29-31, 2004; ‘Going beyond method’, chapter in Language Policy and Planning: The South Asian Perspective. Oxford University Press 2003. He regularly writes on educational and linguistic issues for the editorial pages of various national newspapers.