SC accepts govt’s plea for initial hearing against restoring Chairman HEC Dr. Tariq Banuri

ISLAMABAD, Feb 14 (SABAH): While accepting government’s plea for initial hearing against restoring Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr. Tariq Javed Banuri, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has given an observation that the appointments being undertaken by the commission under the supervision of the chairman would be subject to the case.

The apex court was of the opinion that Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued short verdict for restoration of the HEC Chairman and that their hearing would took place once detailed judgment of IHC came.

A 3-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Ijazul Ahsan and comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Sayyed Mazahr Ali Akbar Naqvi heard the case. During the hearing, Deputy Attorney General Amir Rehman in his arguments said that Dr. Tariq Banuri might be restricted to work on daily affairs and that Chairman HEC did not enjoy much power to appoint executive director of HEC.

Deputy Attorney General pleaded that Chairman HEC be stopped from taking decisions on policy matters as HEC regulations had been changed. Justice Munib Akhtar asked the question as to why Chairman HEC lacked powers of appointing anyone. Justice Ijazul Ahsan clarified that all appointments made by chairman HEC were subject to the current case.

The deputy attorney general replied that chairman HEC enjoyed powers of appointing experts only and that the current chairman was exceeding his limits of powers by appointing rectors and committee members. Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked that the detailed judgment of IHC had yet to come and the case would be processed afterwards.

It is to be noted that IHC had restored Chairman HEC Dr. Tariq Banuri while announcing the short verdict and the federal government had challenged the restoration in the apex court.