ISLAMABAD: After the resignation of its executive director (ED) Dr Arshad Ali, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Monday announced that it would revisit and tighten its policy on plagiarism.

Dr Arshad Ali had resigned from the 18-member commission in its meeting on Saturday over charges of plagiarism.

The HEC also appointed consultant on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in the higher education sector, retired Lt Gen Mohammad Asghar as temporary executive director.

However, some HEC officials were skeptical about the appointment of a consultant as interim ED, as he had recently resigned from the post of member HEC Commission.

They said for appointing an interim ED, a member of the commission should have been chosen or a senior officer should have been given the acting charge. However, an official press release issued on Monday, stated that he is “currently member” of the commission.

Lt Gen Mohammad Asghar given temporary executive director charge

On the other hand, HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Banuri defended his action of appointing an interim ED, saying that precedents were there to make such appointments.

Explaining the reason for mentioning Dr Asghar as member of the commission in the official press release, an officer of the HEC said his resignation had not been accepted which was why he was still a member.Addressing a press conference on Monday, HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Banuri said the commission had directed the HEC to review and reformulate the policy on plagiarism to address the loopholes, gaps and procedural glitches.

He said the major objective was to ensure justice in plagiarism cases so that plagiarists were penalised and the innocent were not victimised.

The HEC chairman also announced that former Rector, National University of Sciences and Technology (Nust) Lt Gen Mohammad Asghar and ‘currently a member of the commission’ had been named as the acting ED. However, his appointment is subject to the approval of the commission.

He said the advertisement for appointment of a new ED would also be made immediately.

The head of the higher education regulatory body said Dr Arshad Ali tendered his resignation in view of the charges of plagiarism against him, adding that the commission in its meeting did not make any judgment against him or in other high profile cases.

There also plagiarism cases against former HEC chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and Comsats Rector Dr Raheel Qamar.

“Dr Arshad Ali has resigned in an honourable way in order to avoid prolonging his case,” the HEC chairman said, adding that the commission appreciated his decision that would protect the organisation from any further controversy.

The former HEC executive director, Dr Arshad Ali, was a co-author of a research paper, which was published in 2004. He was accused of stealing over 80pc research work of a foreign author.

Earlier in its meeting on Saturday, the commission also decided to formulate the Higher Education Information Management System (HEIMS) to collect data on all new and running universities to ensure transparency in the functions of higher education system.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2018

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