Uncertainty looms over HEC chairmanship

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Higher Education Commission, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed completed his two-year tenure on Monday. The fate of a summary moved by the education ministry regarding his extension remains unclear.
As of Monday night, there was no official confirmation on whether the chairmanship would be handed to another commission member or if Dr. Mukhtar would receive an extension.
“We are waiting for news from the federal government. Monday was the last day of our Chairman. The ministry of education had moved a summary to the Prime Minister Office for an extension but its fate remains unclear,” said an official of the HEC.
He added that Chairman HEC on Monday night left his charge. The summary’s fate should be decided on Tuesday so that an acting chairman can be appointed and the process for appointing a new chairman can begin without further delay, the official stated.
The outgoing Chairman HEC was appointed in July 2022 by the PDM government for a two-year tenure. Before this posting, he had also served as Chairman HEC during 2014-18. Under the PTI government, the tenure of the HEC chairman was reduced from four years to two years through an ordinance. This change was apparently made to remove then Chairman HEC Dr. Tariq Banuri, who was removed prematurely by the PTI government.
The Ministry of Federal Education was in favour of a two-year extension for Dr. Mukhtar, as it moved a summary in this regard to the PM Office.
An official of HEC said that it appears that the summary has not yet been taken up by PM Shehbaz Sharif. Whether the summary is to be approved or rejected, both the ministry and HEC would be apprised but there is no news yet, he said.
Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2024