KARACHI: Civil society, human rights and labour rights activists on Friday demanded of the government to withdraw the new Higher Education Commission (HEC) Ordinance which has destroyed its independent role.
In a joint resolution passed at a meeting with the ex-Chairman of HEC Dr. Tariq Binori at the office of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) here the activists expressed serious concern over issuance of an amendment Ordinance, undermining the role of HEC and severing its Chairman’s tenure from four years to two years.
The civil society activists including Karamat Ali, Executive Director, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER); Asad Iqbal Butt, Co-Chairperson of HRCP; Nasir Mansoor, National Trade Union Federation, Pakistan; Dr. Riaz Ahmed, head, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST); Dr. Tipu Sultan, Chancellor of Malir University; Dr. Tauceph Ahmed; Ms. Farhat Parveen, ED NOWCommunities; Ms. Zehra Khan, Home-based Women Workers Federation; Liaquat Sahi, Democratic Workers Unions of State Bank of Pakistan; Saeed Baloch, and Qazi Khizar of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and others demanded to restore Dr. Binori as HEC Chairman.
They pointed out that the government has issued the amendment Ordinance in violation of the HEC law and the Constitution. The resolution demanded restoration of independent role of HEC and free from the government influence.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion, Dr. Binori said the HEC is a regulatory organization established in 2002 and under the law it is not a part of the government. “The government initially asked me to resign but after refusal made amendment in the HEC law to remove me.”
The government had initiated a systematic harassment process including making NAB cases against HEC authorities on the appointment issue. “I wrote a letter to the Prime Minister asking for an appointment for presenting the facts.”
The HEC Ordinance has destroyed the regulatory system of the higher education in Pakistan, which is damaged after the amendment, even if I may be restored by the courts or a new Chairman is appointed.
He said he has filed a Consultation petition in the Sindh High Court (SHC) and it’s next hearing is fixed on 8th April. The court has granted stay. “In my view the government has violated the human rights of the students for getting a quality education in the country.
The private sector universities are minting money and he said he had tried to regulate the system by strictly enforcement of merit. “When I joined the HEC, vital decisions were being made in a feudal manner, which has been changed now.”
Dr. Binori said he had also tried to solve the professors’ and students’ problems. He made it clear that the HEC had not opposed restoration of the students unions in the universities. “I had enforced merit in appointments and scholarship grants and resisted pressure from the government members.”