ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday admitted a petition filed against the appointment of Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Executive Director (ED) Higher Education Commission (HEC), and fixed it before a single bench.

An educationist Prof Dr Aftab Kazi challenged the alleged irregular appointment, modified salary package of Dr Ahmed.

He cited principal secretary to the prime minister, federal secretary ministry of education, training and standards in higher education, federal secretary ministry of finance, chairperson HEC and Dr Mukhtar Ahmed as respondents.

He contended that Dr Ahmed was selected illegally, unlawfully and got his salary package revised illegitimately in violation of prescribed HEC rules.

The appointment and pay package of Dr Ahmed was an example of favouritism and nepotism.

Moreover, being executive director of sole higher education authority of Pakistan he committed a series of irregularities and misused his powers by making appointments of officers in the HEC.

The audit authorities have also raised objection to modified salary package.

The petition maintained that Dr Ahmad was not suitable to hold a prestigious office of executive director of the HEC.

The stakeholders of higher education sectors are also raising their serious concerns as well as complaints regarding injustices and poor performance of Dr Ahmed.

The petition requested to set aside his appointment as executive director of the HEC and the notification for his modified pay package.