The HEC’s first chief, Dr Attaur Rehman, had moved the Islamabad High Court on December 30, 2013 to press for the appointment of a permanent chairperson of the HEC as per the HEC Act. As a result, the selection committee shortlisted 21 candidates out of 103 applications and 18 were interviewed by the panel. After talks with different government officials, it turned out that deliberate efforts were being made by some quarters to delay the announcement and get the choice in the seat.
The Prime Minister’s Office, which is the ‘Controlling Authority’ as per HEC laws, was silent over the delay despite the Islamabad High Court orders to appoint a chairman before February 12. The delay is, of course, tantamount to contempt of court and it is expected that the court might move against the government over the authorities’ persistent lack of action.
Some officials in the Establishment Division have hinted that it is the PM’s busy schedule that is hindering the announcement.
Dilly-dallying on government’s part is not only leaving people guessing but also raising a question over the capability of the government in addressing the issues related to education which figured high on the PML-N’s agenda during its campaign for the 2013 general elections.
It is expected that without further delay, by following the ‘merit’ which the State Minister of Education, Trainings and Standards in Higher Education Balighur Rahman stated while announcing the selection committee, the country will soon have an HEC chairman.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 25th, 2014.
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