IHC reinstates Dr Tariq Banuri as HEC chairman

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court of Islamabad (IHC) on Tuesday ordered the reinstatement of Dr Tariq Banuri as chair of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Umar Farooq issued the ruling after hearing arguments from lawyers for both parties and the Pakistani Attorney General (AGP).

On June 8, 2021, the court gave the HEC three weeks to present the reason for Dr Banuri's removal as chairman.

CJ Minallah's petition was filed by civil society and members following the removal of Dr Banuri by presidential decree.

 In terms of subsection (5), read with subsection (5A), Section 6 of the Higher Education Commission Ordinance, 2002. As amended by the Ordinance of the Commission on Higher Education (amendment) of 2021, Dr Tariq Bannri has resigned as Chairman. The Higher Education Commission is immediately and as a result removed from office, immediately, ”reads the founding Phase notice issued on Friday, 26, 2021.

HEC chairmanship has been vacant since Dr Banur's ouster as the IHC barred the government from appointing a new head until the trial.

The former chairman later moved the court, challenging the government's decision to reduce Dr Banuri's four-year term to two.