Ousted head of HE commission slams removal of autonomy
The government in Pakistan is facing widespread criticism over abruptly ending the autonomy of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the higher education financing and regulatory authority, by amending a 2002 law by presidential order, bypassing parliament.
The new order, which was not tabled before parliament, was signed into law by President Arif Alvi on 8 April, while taking effect from 26 March, ending the autonomy of the HEC by placing it under the federal education ministry.
Pakistan’s constitution provides for emergency law-making through a presidential order when parliament is not in session, but academics, civil society organisations and political leaders question why this emergency provision was applied to the HEC and have strongly condemned and protested the promulgation of the presidential order termed “HEC Amendment Ordinance 2021” that strips the HEC of its administrative and financial powers.