ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Monday appointed former senior military officer as new interim HEC executive director following Dr Arshad Ali’s involvement in stealing over 80 percent content in his research papers. HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Banuri announced in the single point agenda presser that accused Dr Arshad Ali was not proven guilty as yet as the inquiry on allegations against him for plagiarism was under debate in the 18-member commission which is a high powered body of the HEC. “I appointed Lieutenant General (r) Muhammad Asghar as acting executive director,” the chairman confirmed. “Due to some litigations and complications in the case of Dr Arshad Ali, the commission sought some more time to complete the probe for a final conclusion. In the meantime, Dr Ali gave his resignation before the commission which is indeed an honourable act,” Dr Tariq Banuri said. However, a senior official privy to the matter’s development in the HEC said on condition of anonymity that Dr Ali resigned when he found no other option except termination as the commission was about to declare him guilty in stealing a huge amount of research in his papers. Dr Ali in December last year, was allegedly found involved in stealing 88 percent research work of his co-authored research paper from another publication. The paper titled A Taxonomy & Survey of Grid Resource Planning & Reservation Systems for Grid Enabled Analysis Environment published in July 2004 was found heavily plagiarised after being tested by Turnitin, software which has been officially provided by HEC to universities to check the similarity index and plagiarism in the degrees as well as research papers of the scholars. Dr Banuri claimed that the resignation has been accepted and the commission closed the case without the possibility of further investigation as it was “tantamount to major penalty in the plagiarism policy”. Responding to a question on why no one from the senior staff of HEC was shortlisted for the post, the chairman said that Muhammad Asghar is the most competent person and is also a part of the HEC’s commission which is high powered body for decision making. A few months ago, Asghar was selected as HEC board/commission member by former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Ashgar has also served as National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) rector until 2007. Before this, he served against senior positions in the Pakistan Army including centre core commander. Many questions are being raised over the recruitment for this post not being internally based. For instance, a senior official in the HEC who has been working for the last many years and has been conferred with the National Presidential Award Izaz-e-Fazeelat in recognition for his perseverance, dedication and outstanding services in the field of education, science and technology and research for over three decades has been overlooked. He holds a PhD from the University of London 1995, Post-Doctorate degree and a one-year Fulbright Fellowship from Missouri Botanical Gardens. Moreover, he has served in key administrative positions including founding pro-vice chancellor and as meritorious professor in the top National Services Scale since 2011. He has more than 50 research papers published in prestigious journals. The qualification of appointed acting executive director is far less than his. Talking further about Asghar’s appointment, Dr Banuri said, “I have intended to appoint anyone who qualifies according to the existed criteria and it will be approved from the commission,” he said. Published in Daily Times, October 23rd 2018.