Ahsan seeks time to convince PM of appropriateness

TAHIR AMIN

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning and Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal told Business Recorder that he has sought time with the Primer Minister to convince him of the appropriateness of the three short-listed candidates for chair of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) that have been rejected by the Prime Minister.

The second search committee, also headed by Ahsan Iqbal, had reportedly recommended three names to Prime Minister: Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, Executive Director HEC; Dr Najma Najam, Vice Chancellor of Karakoram International University Gilgit-Baltistan; and Dr Niaz Ahmad, VC National Textile University Faisalabad.

The Prime Minister rejected the recommendations of the search committee for the second time and instructed the relevant authorities to form a third committee and resubmit the names of the short-listed candidates for the post of HEC chairmanship. HEC has been operating without a chairman since August 26, 2013. The government appointed Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani, vice-chancellor, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar as acting chairman HEC on November 9, 2013, when the first four-year term of Dr Javaid Laghari expired.

In December 2013, a five-member search committee headed by Ahsan Iqbal was constituted for the appointment of the HEC chairperson. But on the orders of the PM, in January 2014 a new committee headed by Ahsan Iqbal was constituted. Dr Ishrat Hussain and Dr M B Shami were members of the new committee. The PM has directed the constitution of the search committee for a third time with the same chairman i.e. Ahsan Iqbal.

When contacted Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, he confirmed that the names short-listed by the three-member search committee have been rejected by the PM. “At the same time Nawaz Sharif has directed the constitution of another search committee to be headed by me (Ahsan Iqbal)… I would not be heading another committee as questions about my credibility as well as that of the previous two committees would be raised,” he added.

The short-listing of the candidates for the post of HEC chairmanship was totally on merit and transparent, Ahsan said, adding he would try to convince the PM to select the chairman amongst the already short-listed candidates.

The HEC’s first chief Dr Attaur Rehman 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.