Government has not appointed full-time boss despite passage of four months. PHOTO: FILE
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday asked the federal government to respond to a petition filed by a former Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairman who is seeking the court’s direction to appoint an HEC chief.
IHC Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui issued notices to the principal secretary to the prime minister and the education and training ministry and asked them to submit their replies on January 3, 2014.
The petition was filed by Pakistan Academy of Sciences President Dr Attaur Rehman. The former HEC chairman’s counsel, Advocate Umar Hanif Kichi, argued that the HEC post has been vacant since August 27, 2013 and government has yet to appoint a full-time chief. He argued that under the HEC Ordinance, “the position of HEC chairman is to lie vacant for a maximum of three months and it is mandatory that after 90 days, a regular chairperson must be appointed”.
However, no permanent appointment has been made, even after the passage of 120 days. Acting charge has been given to Imtiaz Hussain Gilani.
The counsel for the petition informed the court that the delay in the appointment is negatively affecting the higher education sector. He maintained that a new Tertiary Education Support Programme worth $300 million approved on March 24, 2011 could be withdrawn if an appointment is not made.
The petitioner’s counsel said USAID is finalising a US$250 million support programme for the HEC focusing on the establishment of centres of excellence in water, energy and agriculture, adding that could also be cancelled if the HEC does not appoint a regular chairperson.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2014.
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