Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Search Committee for the selection of Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairperson has not yet shortlisted three candidates for the slot to forward them for prime minister’s approval and has insisted to include age limit requirement in the set criteria, Daily Times has learnt.

The slot is going to be vacant from April 15 while the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training also published advertisements to seek suitable candidates for the post. The deadline for submission of the applications was March 25.

According to the Federal Education & Professional Training Minister Balighur Rehman, they have received around 100 applications.

As per available information, the committee formed by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi who is the controlling authority of the commission consists of six members including former minister Dr Sania Nishtar, former parliamentarian Shahnaz Wazir Ali, educationist Faisal Bari, Mirza Qamar Baig and the education ministry secretary while senior educationist and philanthropist Syed Babar Ali is the convener of the committee.

The committee would send three names as per set criteria and then forward them to the PM while the final approval would be given by the premier.

The second meeting of the committee was held on Tuesday at the ministry. An official from the ministry requesting anonymity said that mostly members of the committee insisted for putting the age bar in the required criteria for the post. However, there was no such restriction mentioned by the HEC act and it also not asked so in the advertisement.

The documents revealed that the education ministry also circulated an email to the candidates asking them their ages.

“While scrutinising the applications and attached documents, it was revealed that your date of birth was not mentioned. You are requested to please share your exact date of birth by replying to the email,” reads the email sent by Muhammad Rafique Tahir who is not part of the search committee but is the joint education adviser of the education ministry.

The sources said that the basic purpose to include age restriction in the criteria was to exclude some candidates from the scrutiny.

Educationists were of the view that rules should be kept on top priority in the whole process.

Former chief of the commission Dr Attaur Rehman, who was among the founding members of the commission, told this correspondent that including age restriction in the process, may deprive any qualified candidate who fulfills all other requirements.

Another official in the ministry said that it was quite unfortunate that instead of learning from the past, some officials who have close association with the current regime of HEC, are misguiding members of the search committee in order to put the certain potential candidates and senior academicians out of the selection process by introducing age bar.

“Instead of assessing candidates on the basis of prescribed criteria and credentials, age restriction is being considered,” he regretted.

While citing some examples, he said that even the National Commission for Human Development Chairperson Rozina Alam is above 70. Similarly, he said, in recent advertised position of vice chancellors of Federal Urdu University and Karakoram International University, and some other cases, there was no age limit mentioned in the advertisement.

Some well-known applicants in include the incumbent chairperson Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Punjab HEC Chairman Dr Muhammad Nizamuddin, Sindh Madressatul Islam University VC Dr Muhammad Ali Sheikh, International Islamic University Rector Dr Masoom Yasinzai, Comsats Executive Director Dr Junaid Zaidi and University of Agriculture Faisalabad former VC Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan.

According to the HEC Act, the commission chairperson should have international eminence and proven ability to lead HEC of Pakistan. Besides, he/she should have made significant contributions in higher education as a teacher, researcher or administrator with at least 20 years of relevant experience with a PhD from a recognised leading institute/university. The candidates should also include a letter of intent, resume, proof of excellence, accomplishments, achievements and awards.

According to the available information, the above mentioned qualification and experience was asked in the advertisement.

This would be the fourth chairperson since the inception of HEC. The commission had been established by former military ruler General (r) Pervez Musharraf in 2002.

Published in Daily Times, April 8^th 2018.