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ISLAMABAD: There has erupted a battle between the high-ups of Higher Education Commission (HEC) which, the other party says, has blatantly ignored directives of the prime minister and gave extension to its two senior officials. Thus the point to be decided is administrative powers for appointment of MP-Scale officers, reliable sources told “The News” here on Saturday.
The sources said that on notifying extension in the services of Dr Sohail Naqvi and Dr Riaz Hussain Qureshi on September 7, 2012, HEC immediately lost favour with the prime minister who is its controlling authority. Extensions were granted despite the fact that the PM Secretariat had advised them to put the issue on hold till the Establishment Division and Law Division had given their opinion on the case.
A source in the PM Secretariat said HEC continued to make a mockery of the directives of the Establishment Division for years but now its high-ups directly challenged the authority of the prime minister who finally gave the green signal to give Secretary Education and Training Qamar Zaman Chaudhry additional charge of executive director of HEC.
According to official data, since 2002 HEC made ten appointments in MP scale I to III including that of Dr Sohail Hussain Naqvi who was appointed as Member HRD in MP-I, Information and Telecommunication Division on September 9, 2002, for a period of two years. Later on, he was transferred and posted as Member, HRD and Planning for the rest of the period of contract up to September 15, 2004, with the approval of the prime minister. However, on completion of his contract period, HEC appointed Dr Sohail Naqvi as executive director, HEC in MP-I scale, for a period of two years on September 16, 2004 followed by three consecutive extensions of two years each starting from September 16, 2006 to September 15, 2012.
In its letter on June 3, 2011 the Establishment Division categorically stated that HEC has ignored all instructions and rules in this regard.”
When contacted, HEC Chairman Dr Javed Leghari told “The News” that the Establishment Division has no authority to interfere in the affairs of HEC so “we are waiting for the final decision by the prime minister and till then Dr Sohail Naqvi would continue to perform his duties as executive director of the Commission.”
“HEC is an independent body and exercises its powers in line with the existing rules and procedures but some quarters have provided misguided version to the prime minister for some obvious reasons. But I am hopeful that the prime minister would give us time and listen to our arguments after which the issue would be settled amicably,” he said.
Meanwhile a press release issued here by the Officers Welfare Association (OWA) and Employees Welfare Association (EWA) of the HEC, representing over 600 permanent employees, has unanimously condemned the ‘rebellious’ attitude of Dr Sohail Naqvi for willfully denying the legitimate orders of the competent/controlling authority that is the prime minister of Pakistan.
“As per HEC Ordinance, the prime minister of Pakistan, being the controlling authority of HEC, has a supervisory role and has every right to intervene and stop any illegal action taken by the HEC management,” the release said.
The statement said the Commission advertised the position of the Executive Director HEC in national press inviting applications from the potential candidates in August 28, 2012 but Dr Sohail Naqvi extended his services for 3rd tenure of four years through governing body of the HEC in its meeting held on August 27, 2012, hence denying the right of open competition.
Moreover the HEC Ordinance clearly states that chairperson and members shall hold office for a period of four years and shall in no case be eligible for re-appointment for more than one similar term. The Commission has no power to amend or re-interpret the ordinance. The prime minister has neither delegated his power to appoint officers in MP scale to the Commission.
“We, the members of OWA and EWA laud the action of the prime minister and ensure our full cooperation to the newly appointed executive director, HEC,” it said.
The sources said that on notifying extension in the services of Dr Sohail Naqvi and Dr Riaz Hussain Qureshi on September 7, 2012, HEC immediately lost favour with the prime minister who is its controlling authority. Extensions were granted despite the fact that the PM Secretariat had advised them to put the issue on hold till the Establishment Division and Law Division had given their opinion on the case.
A source in the PM Secretariat said HEC continued to make a mockery of the directives of the Establishment Division for years but now its high-ups directly challenged the authority of the prime minister who finally gave the green signal to give Secretary Education and Training Qamar Zaman Chaudhry additional charge of executive director of HEC.
According to official data, since 2002 HEC made ten appointments in MP scale I to III including that of Dr Sohail Hussain Naqvi who was appointed as Member HRD in MP-I, Information and Telecommunication Division on September 9, 2002, for a period of two years. Later on, he was transferred and posted as Member, HRD and Planning for the rest of the period of contract up to September 15, 2004, with the approval of the prime minister. However, on completion of his contract period, HEC appointed Dr Sohail Naqvi as executive director, HEC in MP-I scale, for a period of two years on September 16, 2004 followed by three consecutive extensions of two years each starting from September 16, 2006 to September 15, 2012.
In its letter on June 3, 2011 the Establishment Division categorically stated that HEC has ignored all instructions and rules in this regard.”
When contacted, HEC Chairman Dr Javed Leghari told “The News” that the Establishment Division has no authority to interfere in the affairs of HEC so “we are waiting for the final decision by the prime minister and till then Dr Sohail Naqvi would continue to perform his duties as executive director of the Commission.”
“HEC is an independent body and exercises its powers in line with the existing rules and procedures but some quarters have provided misguided version to the prime minister for some obvious reasons. But I am hopeful that the prime minister would give us time and listen to our arguments after which the issue would be settled amicably,” he said.
Meanwhile a press release issued here by the Officers Welfare Association (OWA) and Employees Welfare Association (EWA) of the HEC, representing over 600 permanent employees, has unanimously condemned the ‘rebellious’ attitude of Dr Sohail Naqvi for willfully denying the legitimate orders of the competent/controlling authority that is the prime minister of Pakistan.
“As per HEC Ordinance, the prime minister of Pakistan, being the controlling authority of HEC, has a supervisory role and has every right to intervene and stop any illegal action taken by the HEC management,” the release said.
The statement said the Commission advertised the position of the Executive Director HEC in national press inviting applications from the potential candidates in August 28, 2012 but Dr Sohail Naqvi extended his services for 3rd tenure of four years through governing body of the HEC in its meeting held on August 27, 2012, hence denying the right of open competition.
Moreover the HEC Ordinance clearly states that chairperson and members shall hold office for a period of four years and shall in no case be eligible for re-appointment for more than one similar term. The Commission has no power to amend or re-interpret the ordinance. The prime minister has neither delegated his power to appoint officers in MP scale to the Commission.
“We, the members of OWA and EWA laud the action of the prime minister and ensure our full cooperation to the newly appointed executive director, HEC,” it said.
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