ISLAMABAD, Dec 4: The battle lines are drawn, the stand off continues between the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the government.

Protesters and supporters of both sides held demonstrations in front of the HEC office, on Tuesday. The HEC also found support in the shape of Dr Attaur Rehman, Chairman Pakistan Academy of Sciences and founder HEC.

The spectacle started in the morning. As HEC chairman Dr Javaid Leghari’s car reached the entrance, protestors gathered at the spot to protest. Dr Sohail Naqvi was also sitting with Mr Legahri.

Employees chanted slogans against Mr Naqvi.

Later, two buses of Federal Urdu University, comprising mostly of youngsters, reached the spot and started chanting slogans against the regular employees.

The students said: “Protesters are agents of the government; we need peace in HEC not politics”.

Apparently because of the noise, Dr Leghari and Dr Naqvi came out of their offices and went out from the rear gate. Decision to leave was taken to avoid any unwanted incident.

Minutes later, students who came in buses also went back but employees of HEC continued their protest, for a few more hours.

Protesters reiterated that the issue of HEC autonomy, which had already been settled by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, was being misused to give extension to Dr Sohail Naqvi. “HEC Ordinance is very clear that any person cannot become a Member of the Commission for more than two terms, 4 year each. Also that the Commission is not authorised to grant a third extension to any member,” speakers claimed.

The association of employees again vowed to extend full cooperation to the new Executive Director (ED), Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, who had been given additional charge by the government.

Confusion is being spread regarding authority for appointment in MP scale. HEC Ordinance, 2002, does not authorise the Commission to recruit any officer in the MP scale because extension in MP scale is the sole prerogative of the prime minister, one protestor said.

On the other hand, Prof Dr Attaur Rehman, along with other scientists — Prof Dr Khalid Mehmood Khan and Prof Dr Misbahuddin Shami — held a press conference to defend the case of HEC management.

Dr Attaur Rehman said that the notification of appointment of the new ED HEC was illegal as under the present law that governs the operation of HEC, it is only the 18 member Commission that has the powers to appoint officers and advisors.

The prime minister’s office or the establishment division has no powers under the law to interfere in the autonomous functioning of the HEC. The prime minister has powers to appoint Chairman HEC (who must be an internationally acclaimed scholar as per law) but he cannot remove the Chairman or appoint officers of HEC, said Dr Attaur Rehman .

He said the Commission can also formulate its own rules and regulations. This level of autonomy was deliberately incorporated in the law at the time, when the HEC was being set up in 2002.

Dr Atta said that the HEC has been working well, so it should be allowed to work independently. If the government wants to intervene in the affairs of the HEC, it should do so through legislation.

While replying to questions, Dr Atta said that the prime minister should call the management of HEC and after listening to their point of view, resolve the issue.