Bushra Anjum claims Education Minister not only appointed Tayyaba as acting VC but also elevated her to professor
Senator Bushra Anjum. Photo: screenshot
Senator Bushra Anjum Butt on Wednesday questioned the tenure of the Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design (PIFD) vice-chancellor and the release of over Rs 2 billion in institutional funds, while criticizing the federal education minister for repeatedly missing meetings of the Senate Standing Committee on Education and ignoring its directives.
The senator accused the minister of ignoring the committee’s decisions in a dispute over the tenure of PIFD vice-chancellor Hina Tayyaba. Speaking at a Senate session this week, Butt said the education minister had not taken the committee seriously.
“I just want to bring this matter to the attention of everyone and the chair of the Standing Committee on Education. I think it is time for the Minister of Education to take the Senate seriously. I have attended the meetings but the minister has never been present,” she said.
She said the commission held six to seven meetings on the issue, during which questions were raised about “abuse of power and misappropriation of funds.” According to Butt, the commission ruled that Tayyaba’s term ended in December and that she should step down, and that any investigation would be conducted “transparently.”
Despite the decision, the senator alleged that the minister not only appointed Tayyaba as acting vice-chancellor but also elevated her to the rank of professor and authorized the release of over Rs2 billion of institutional funds under his authority.
“So I think it makes a mockery of the Senate Standing Committee. I would appreciate this matter being transferred to the Privileges Committee, and I also want to refer it to the Finance Committee,” she said.
“If the role of the standing committee is just a formality, then tell me – or if it is a forum where people knock on the door and demand justice – so that I can work accordingly,” she added, specifying that she wanted the minister to explain why he did not follow the committee’s decision.
The senator further alleged that officials of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) had taken the position that the Senate had no power to question the tenure of a vice-chancellor. “We need to put this house in order,” she concluded.
