ISLAMABAD: The chairman of National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) retired Col Dr Amirullah Marwat, who was terminated from service by the education ministry on Tuesday, refused to leave his position and termed the action of the ministry “totally illegal”.

On April 24, Ministry of Education removed PTI’s appointee chairman of NCHD for posting alleged objectionable material on social media against state institutions. He was appointed in 2019 for a period of five years.

However, in response to the removal letter issued by the ministry, Mr Marwat on Friday through a letter, which was addressed to secretary (federal education), stated that the letter issued by the ministry was totally illegal, therefore, he would not comply with it.

In his letter, the NCHD head said that according to the Act of NCHD, only the president of Pakistan could remove him from his position, therefore, the ministry had no legal ground for issuing such letters. Mr Marwat stated in the letter: “Let me quote an example of my predecessors Nafeesa Shah, who was MNA and was active member of a political party. So your, assertion that undersigned was appointed on political ground also becomes redundant, infructuous and baseless.”

As far as using derogatory language in relation with politics on social media was concerned, he said: “The previous chairperson Nafeesa Shah was sitting MNA and openly expressed her opinions not only on the floor of the house but in public gatherings and in TV talks shows. The freedom of speech and expression has been guaranteed by Article 184 of the Constitution of Pakistan.”

“Being a former MNA and political worker of a party, I have shown due respect for all state institutions as mentioned in the constitution and like any ordinary citizen, reserve the right to express my opinion as guaranteed by constitution,” he said and added that allegation of using unlawful/abusive/derogatory language against state institutions is a direct and personal attack on my integrity and patriotism.

Meanwhile, speaking to Dawn, he said that in August last year, the Ministry of Education illegally tried to remove him by locking his office illegally. “I will continue working as head of NCHD until expiry of my tenure,” he said and added that the ministry also cited Election Commission of Pakistan’s directive for removing political appointee, adding that ECP had nothing to do with his appointment and termination.

The ministry’s notification, issued by Joint Secretary Amjad Ahmad stated: “Your appointment as Chairman of NCHD was purely on political basis, it is also on record that previously you were holding the Public Office as MNA of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from September, 2013 to May, 2018 ... you in capacity of chairman NCHD, recently posted some objectionable derogatory and against the state institutions material on social media which is highly objectionable and does not commensurate with the status of the post.”

“Posting of such politically biased and derogatory material against the state institutions by the chairman, NCHD on social media may cause unrest among the officials and demoralise them subsequently affecting the professional working of the organisation serving through its workers in Punjab and KP.”

The ministry’s notification added that ECP vide their notification dated Jan 22, 2023 inter-alia had directed it to ensure immediate termination of services of all heads of institutions appointed on political grounds and to send their lists to the commission forthwith. “By reason of the above your services are hereby terminated with immediate effect i.e from May 24, 2023 to comply with the directions of ECP circulated… dated 22nd January 2023,” read the notification.

Published in Dawn, May 27TH, 2023