HEC chairman Dr Tariq Banuri removed

By Muhammad JuniadPublished On 06 Jan 2023

• Dr Tariq Banuri was appointed in May 2018 by the former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for a four-year term.
• NAB has also launched an investigation against him for corruption, irregularities, mismanagement, and appointment of consultants.
• Experts and educationists have condemned the removal of Dr. Tariq Banuri.

KARACHI: Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr. Tariq Banuri has been dismissed before the expiry of his term and a formal notification has also been issued in this regard on Friday.

Dr. Tariq Banuri was appointed in May 2018 by the former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for a four-year term and his tenure was due to end in May next year.

Reportedly, there were widespread complaints against him accusing him of running the HEC on an ad hoc basis. Dozens of consultants were recruited on the hefty salaries of the directors, some of whom were not only retired but also academically graduates.

Recently, the National Accountability Bureau had also launched an investigation against him for corruption, irregularities, mismanagement and appointment of consultants.

Meanwhile, an ordinance was issued to reduce the tenure of the Chairman HEC and dismiss him.

A senior member of the HEC board or Executive Director will now be appointed as the acting chairman, after which a permanent appointment will be made to the post by advertising for a permanent chairman.

Experts rue Dr. Banuri’s dismissal

Educationists and experts have criticized the government’s move saying it would further damage the already shattered system.

Dr. Adil Najam, Dean, Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University, slammed the authorities on his removal and said Dr Tariq Banuri is being bullied out by pygmies for trying to mend a broken system.

“What a travesty!!! It's not just that Dr. Tariq Banuri is being bullied out by pygmies for trying to mend a broken system.

He said that the ordinance will further wreck an already shattered system.

“Petty personal interests and a vile malicious campaign proves again that the greatest enemy of system reform is the system itself,” he added.

Renowned public policy expert, Mosharraf Zaidi also lashed out at the federal government on the development.

“This government has devoured many competent people and spit them out—but none were so qualified or so effective as was Dr. Tariq Banuri,” he tweeted.