ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday sought a reply within a week from the government and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) on the appointment of Dr Mukhtar Ahmad as chief of the regulatory body.
IHC judge Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui resumed the hearing of a petition filed by Arsal Ikram, who had challenged Dr Ahmad’s appointment as the HEC’s chief.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsels, Muhammad Shoaib Shaheen and Muhammad Umair Baloch, argued that the appointment had been made without due process and in violation of rules.
They maintained that the first search committee headed by Federal Minister for Planning Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal had shortlisted three candidates including Dr Ahmad, Dr Najma Najam and Dr Niaz Ahmed and their names were forwarded to the prime minister.
The petitioner said that the prime minister dissolved the committee and reconstituted another search committee headed by Federal Minister for Water and Power and Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif following controversy over the shortlisting process.
They argued that in the meanwhile, the government appointed Dr Ahmad as permanent HEC chairman, while claiming that his name was rejected by the prime minister.
The petitioner prayed the court to declare Dr Ahmad’s appointment null and void.
The court directing the government and the HEC to submit their replies in next week’s hearing and later adjourned.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2014.
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