ISLAMABAD: Despite the opposition’s best efforts, the government was able to pass a bill that allows it to choose the rector of the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) at its own discretion.

The National Assembly adopted the Nust (Amendment) Bill 2016 on Wednesday, which changes the words “engineering qualifications and experience” in the original Nust Act 1997 to “prescribed qualifications and experience to be determined by the government”.

The bill was opposed almost immediately after it was presented. Speaking first, PTI’s Dr Shireen Mazari said that being a public sector institution, the criteria for the selection of the Nust rector must be transparent. “My suspicion is that this is a person-specific amendment to accommodate someone who is not an engineer,” she said.

PPP’s Syed Naveed Qamar also opposed the bill, saying that the definition of qualifications may be broadened, but should not be expanded so much that it leaves room enough for anyone, irrespective of their qualifications, could be appointed.

“Over the years, the university has expanded in scope, services and stature... the responsibility of the affairs of Nust [should be given] to a best suited education manager,” reads the bill’s statement of objects and reasons.

Making a case for the amendment, Climate Change Minister Zahid Hamid said that when it was founded, Nust was purely an engineering varsity, but is now a multidisciplinary institution.

“Not only Nust, but Quaid-i-Azam University, Air University, Bahria University, Comsats, PIEAS and NUCES-FAST also allow the board or the chancellor to appoint their heads,” the minister claimed.

PkMAP leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, however, maintained that no matter who decided what qualifications the rector should have, the criteria and the vacancy should be advertised. “There should be transparency and aggrieved parties should have the option to go to court to seek legal remedy,” he said.

The speaker then put the bill to a voice vote, which the treasury easily won. However, when the full-throated opposition began to grumble, Speaker Ayaz Sadiq was forced to observe; “I think the yeas have it, but we’ll still have a count,” which was a direct reference to the dispute between the opposition and the deputy speaker that had been resolved only the previous day.

The bill was adopted by around 60 votes to 35.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2016