ISLAMABAD: Three days after chairman of Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr Tariq Banuri was removed from his post, the commission on Monday proposed three names for a vacant position in its regulatory body.

The virtual meeting of the commission on Monday shortlisted Dr Attaur Rahman, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and Dr Javed Laghari, all of whom were former HEC chairmen, for the HEC member, which fell vacant in 2018 after the resignation of Dr Sania Nishtar.

The names of the candidates will be sent to the Education Ministry for submission to the prime minister’s office for final approval. The HEC has an 18-member commission which takes important decisions.

Meanwhile, the ousted HEC chairman filed a writ petition in Sindh High Court against his removal and the court on Monday restrained the government from appointing a new chairman till the next date of hearing.

Sources termed the commission’s meeting as highly important because of its timing, as on the direction of the federal government, the commission proposed three names.

An officer of the commission said in case the court does not grant stay order on next date of hearing in favour of Dr Banuri, the government will appoint any member of the commission as acting HEC chairman till a regular appointment is made through competitive process.

He said it was easy for the government to appoint any member of the commission as acting chairman, but by the way the government directed to fill a vacant post, it seems the appointed person against this vacant post will be given acting charge.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2021