ISLAMABAD – The governing board of Higher Education Commission (HEC) Sunday appointed Prof Dr Mukhtar Ahmed as new executive director of HEC.
In case he does not join, the offer would be made to other preferential candidate in the order of merit as recommended by the selection board. The 17-member governing commission met here at HEC head office Islamabad which was attended by all the members of the Commission including two federal secretaries and representatives of provincial governments.  The meeting was chaired by HEC Chairperson Dr Javaid R Laghari.
Though it was a unanimous decision of the members, according to information, the members also pointed out that the administration should have taken approval from the Finance and Establishment Division to change the terms and conditions of the ED post and had to re-advertise the post. 
The Supreme Court had directed the HEC on December 20, 2012 for recruitment/ appointment of new HEC ED within 30 days. On Saturday, the interviews for the slot of new executive director were conducted by the selection board.  Twelve candidates appeared for the interview. The selection board shortlisted three top candidates and recommended their names to the Commission for appointment as HEC ED.
But suspicions have been voiced about the selection process and matter has been challenged in Islamabad High Court. The court is going to hear the case Monday (today). The Ministry of Education and Training and the Establish Division had also wrote to HEC that the administration of HEC cannot change terms and conditions of the post without the approval of Finance Division from Management Position Scale (MP-Scale) to status the of Vice Chancellor and suggested it to get more from the court.
But HEC administration in the pretext of meeting SC deadline finalised the appointment. The IHC may set aside the appointment of Dr. Mukhtar as ED and HEC may be directed to re-advertise the post and start the process afresh.
Dr. Mukhtar has flown to Morocco after interview as he is currently serving Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO), Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco as Deputy DG. According to officials he has two weeks’ time in joining so he will wait for the court’s decision before joining.  As the IHC has asked the HEC Chairman to appear before the court with relevant record of ED’s appointment, an official requesting not be quoted said the Chairman has gone to attend Jamshoro University convocation so he will not appear before the court in person and a lawyer may represent the HEC administration.
There has been controversy and criticism of the HEC activities since the HEC Commission gave approval of second four year extension to former ED Sohail Naqvi in violation of rules on August 27, 2012. The Prime Minister being the Controlling Authority of the Commission termed the extension illegal and gave charge of the post to Ministry of Education and Training Secretary Qamar Zaman that was challenged the Supreme Court.
Though, the Supreme Court declared the government’s move as interference in HEC affairs and declared the appointment of Qamar Zaman by the PM as null and void, the court also ruled that the Commission’s decision to extend the term of former ED was also illegal and directed the HEC Chairman to appoint new ED within 30 days.