The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday barred the government from appointing the head of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
The court issued instructions while hearing the petition against the HEC regulations and the reappointment of Tariq Banuri as chairman of the commission. The request was only heard from an IHC bench led by Justice Athar Minallah.
With the order, the court asked the government not to appoint the president until the next hearing.
The IHC also sends notices to the Cabinet Secretary, Law, Education, HEC and the former President of HEC.
Faisal Siddiqui, the applicant’s attorney, said: “The regulation only applies to one person. How can there be a recipe for just one person? “
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Faisal Siddiqui added: “This government is taking the autonomy of the institution.”
Faisal Siddiqui said the mandate of appointment was also shortened, while the terms used in the regulation were also intended for specific purposes.
The lawyer added that “HEC President can only be dismissed under paragraph 6 [Rules of Procedure].”
When asked by the Ministry of Justice when the regulation was first promulgated, Sidiki replied that Tariq Banuri had been removed from his post on March 26 and that he had resigned on April 5. Justice Minallah then adjourned the trial until June 8.
