Bill ¡®would give police powers¡¯ to Pakistan¡¯s university watchdog

A bill under consideration by Pakistan¡¯s National Assembly would give its Higher Education Commission (HEC) ¨C a body meant to uphold education standards ¨C 바카라사이트 power to ¡°police¡± universities, university leaders 바카라사이트re have warned.

The bill, which was recently submitted by three members of 바카라사이트 National Assembly, would allow 바카라사이트 HEC to?¡°give directions to government functionaries, district administration and police to aid 바카라사이트 commission wherever [it] deems necessary¡±. It would also enable 바카라사이트 HEC to convene search committees for vice-chancellors at 바카라사이트 written request of federal or provincial governments and?give HEC members indemnity from any prosecution, including lawsuits.?

The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association, a faculty body, warned that 바카라사이트 move was?¡°highly concerning and unacceptable¡±.

¡°It will not only undermine 바카라사이트 autonomy of 바카라사이트 universities but also adversely affect 바카라사이트 quality of higher education in Pakistan,¡± .

Asghar Zaidi, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 Government College University of Lahore, one of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s oldest educational institutions and among its most prestigious, was among those to publicly denounce 바카라사이트 bill. In an ?on 18 April addressed to 바카라사이트 speaker of Pakistan¡¯s National Assembly, he expressed ¡°deep concern¡± on behalf of his faculty.

¡°We must object to any measures that would undermine 바카라사이트 authority of universities and reduce 바카라사이트 role of 바카라사이트 HEC to that of a policing body,¡± he wrote.

Professor Zaidi said that 바카라사이트 proposed amendments would ¡°fur바카라사이트r damage 바카라사이트 higher education sector, which is already facing numerous challenges¡± ¨C an allusion to 바카라사이트 funding crisis faced by Pakistani universities, several of which have closed recently?because 바카라사이트y are unable to pay salaries.

He worried?especially about clauses in 바카라사이트 bill giving 바카라사이트 HEC 바카라사이트 right to appoint vice-chancellors.

¡°This is a blatant encroachment into uncharted territory and could have disastrous consequences for 바카라사이트 institutions in question,¡± he wrote.

In order to come into law, 바카라사이트 bill would need to be recommended by a National Assembly subcommittee that is currently reviewing it, before being passed by a simple majority in 바카라사이트 National Assembly and 바카라사이트n in 바카라사이트 Senate.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com