HEC nomination decision raises questions over governance standards

A controversy has emerged after the Higher Education Commission (HEC) nominated Muhammad Murtaza Noor as its representative

Islamabad: A controversy has emerged after the Higher Education Commission (HEC) nominated Muhammad Murtaza Noor as its representative for the University of Faisalabad’s Board of Governors meeting, despite an earlier official notice clearly stating that he is no longer associated with HEC. The decision raised serious questions in academic circles about governance, selection criteria, and transparency in official appointments.

A governance related controversy has surfaced in Pakistan’s higher education sector after the Higher Education Commission (HEC) nominated Muhammad Murtaza Noor as its official representative for the 24th meeting of the University of Faisalabad’s Board of Governors. The decision has shocked many academics because it directly contrasts with an earlier official HEC public notice stating he was no longer associated with the commission and was not authorized to represent it in any capacity.

The earlier public notice, issued by the Higher Education Commission, clearly stated that Muhammad Murtaza Noor’s contract as Project Manager (Social Sciences/Media) ended on November 30, 2013. It further declared that after this date, he had no authority to act on behalf of HEC, and the public was strictly advised not to consider him an employee or representative of the commission. The notice also clarified that HEC holds no responsibility for any dealings he conducted after his contract ended.

However, in a separate official memorandum issued by HEC Coordination Division, Muhammad Murtaza Noor was again nominated to represent the commission in the Board of Governors meeting of the University of Faisalabad. This sudden nomination has triggered serious debate in academic and administrative circles across the country.

The situation became more controversial because the meeting included senior higher education officials and experienced education leaders, including top representatives from the Punjab Higher Education Commission and other academic authorities. In such a high level governance meeting, the presence of a nominee with disputed official standing has raised concerns about administrative consistency within HEC.

Academic experts and observers say the main issue is not personal background, but whether Muhammad Murtaza Noor meets the required standards of higher education governance, policy understanding, and institutional representation. Critics argue that university boards require individuals with strong academic or administrative experience in higher education, and questions are now being raised about the criteria used for his selection.

The controversy has also brought renewed attention to governance practices within higher education institutions. Experts are questioning how an individual who was officially declared no longer associated with HEC more than a decade ago has been nominated again for an official representative role in a statutory university body.

A media inquiry was sent to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) seeking an official response regarding the legal and administrative basis for Muhammad Murtaza Noor’s nomination, the eligibility criteria applied, and the selection process used for representing the Commission at the University of Faisalabad Board of Governors meeting. In response, the HEC Media Wing acknowledged the query, stating the matter would be taken up with the relevant office and a formal reply provided after internal consultation; however, no detailed official response was received by the time this report was filed.