GUJRAT, Feb 16: Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid) chief Chaudhry Shujaat Husain says any bill undermining the autonomy of the Higher Education Commission will be opposed by his party.

“As an ally of the ruling PPP, I will suggest it not to present in parliament any bill related to the HEC,” he said at the inauguration of a private school here on Saturday.

“Higher Education Commission (HEC) is serving Pakistan in the field of higher education and its achievements are great. We need to protect its autonomy but some people are trying to damage it which will not be tolerated,” he said.

University of Gujrat Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohammad Nizamuddin said, on this occasion, he had requested the government to save the autonomous status of such an institution like HEC that had become a role model for other countries. He said the HEC had served the country by promoting the cause of higher education.

PML-Q Secretary-General Senator Mushahid Husain told the audience the HEC was an established pillar of higher education in Pakistan. He said any plot against this institution was condemnable and would not be acceptable to any Pakistani. “The HEC needs to be strengthened further rather than weakening it.”

Talking to reporters later, Shujaat Husain and Mushahid said the plan to rename Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, would not be allowed at all because its name had an attachment with the Quaid-i-Azam.

Shujaat said during their negotiations with President Asif Ali Zardari, it had been decided that PML-Q would contest elections under its electoral symbol cycle. He said Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi would contest election from NA-105.