LAHORE: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan will implement the Lahore High Court decision in letter and spirit.

“The appointment of a VC is not a simple work since it requires an exhaustive exercise to select a suitable candidate who can really lead and run a varsity in a professional manner. As soon as we receive a copy of the decision, we will follow the directions,” says HEC Chairman Prof Dr Mukhtar Ahmed.

He said under the criteria, the HEC Pakistan was responsible to ensure merit in such appointments by constituting a search committee, shortlisting of candidates etc. Some educationists Dawn talked to said the court battle began mainly after the appointment of Dr Mujahid Kamran as Punjab University VC on ‘look-after the charge’ basis despite the fact he had retired from the post after completing two tenures spanning over eight years.

“The matter became contentious after the appointment of Dr Kamran on an officiating basis in violation of the procedures,” says a Lahore-based public university’s VC who wished not to be quoted.

He said the case related to the appointment of VCs of Lahore College for Women University, Sargodha University and Nawaz Sharif Engineering University (Multan) was not so contentious like the PU.

Talking to Dawn, petitioner Prof Asmatullah said the court had clearly termed the criteria adopted for appointing Dr Kamran and others wrong as it was the HEC prerogative. On the other hand, a statement issued by the PU’s Academic Staff Association President Prof Dr Sajid Rashid and Secretary Dr Mahboob Hussain said: “We respect judiciary and its decisions. However, uncertainty has been created in various public sector universities due to the decision of the court.”

A PU spokesman told Dawn that under section 14(9) of the varsity act, if office of the VC is vacant or the VC is absent or unable to perform the functions owing to any cause, the Pro-VC shall perform functions of the office.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2016