Army rank, not qualifications, supreme

NA body passes bill over appointment of NUML rector.

ISLAMABAD:

Over 500 teachers across the country with higher qualifications and relevant experience have been made ineligible to become the rector or director-general of National University of Modern Languages (NUML).

The rector of the university would be a serving or retired army brigadier or a higher ranking military officer, and will not be chosen on the basis of qualifications or relevant experience, but on the basis of his rank, according to National University of Modern Languages Amendment Bill 2011.

The bill was passed by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat here on Friday. The committee authorised NUML Board of Governors (BoGs) Chairperson -- the Chief of Army Staff -- to appoint the university’s rector and director-general.

Diwan Ashiq Hussain Bokhari headed the meeting which was attended by representatives of Higher Education Commission (HEC) and NUML.

The idea was opposed by HEC Executive Director Sohail Naqvi, who suggested that the appointment of the rector should be through a search committee, which should forward at least three names to BOG Chairperson for selection.

PML-N MNA Tariq Fazal seconded Naqvi, but later voted in favour of the bill.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2011.