ISLAMABAD: The government has dismissed Dr Tariq Banuri as Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
A notification has been issued by the Establishment Division stating that Dr Tariq Banuri has “ceased to the Chairperson, Higher Education Commission forthwith and is accordingly removed from the said post, with immediate effect.”
The Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases (CCLC) on Wednesday recommended that the tenure of HEC chairman should only be two years instead of the existing practice of four years. He was appointed in May 2018 by then Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for a four-year term.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) recently started investigation against him for illegal appointments, misuse of powers, mismanagement and corruption.
The anti-graft watchdog has sought details of consultants appointed by him and details of expenses incurred on the inauguration of university in PM house. It was also reported that Dr Banuri had also appointed a number of consultants on heavy salary packages.
The HEC chairman had received immense criticism over his working relationship with federal education ministry, vice chancellors, faculty members, employees and media. Therefore, the government had decided to remove him from the post.
The chairman of Vice Chancellor Committee Dr Mohammad Ali said heads of the country’s universities have many concerns over the policies and approach of the HEC chairman.
He said VCs are major stakeholders but unfortunately the HEC has been ignoring them while making policies for the past couple of years which is affected the education sector.
Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association FAPUASA Prof Dr Nek Mohammad Shaikh said HEC head had ignored university teachers in the decision-making process that resulted into poor polices for the higher education sector of the country.
He supported the government’s decision for finally realising that the chairman is not fit for this important position.
