IHC orders reinstating Tariq Banuri as HEC chairman

• Bench comprising CJ Athar Minallah and Justice Umar Farooq issue verdict of reinstating Dr Banuri to his former position.
• Court reserves judgement to remove Dr Banuri from his position as chairman HEC through an ordinance.
• Decision was reserved after court heard arguments of lawyers of the parties and attorney general.

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday issued orders to reinstate Dr Tariq Banuri as the chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Geo News reported.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Umar Farooq issued the verdict of reinstating Dr Banuri to his former position, the report said.

In a short order, authored by Justice Aamer Farooq, the IHC had stated that the notifications, dated 26/03/2021 and 05/04/2021, were issued without lawful authority and contrary to the amended provisions of the HEC Ordinance, 2002.

"Respondent No. 6 Dr Tariq Javed Banuri, therefore, stands restored as the Chairman of the Higher Education Commission," the order said.

In March 2021, Dr Banuri was removed from office unceremoniously by the PTI government when his tenure was shortened from four to three years through an amendment to the HEC ordinance. Later, he approached the IHC against his premature removal.

In June 2021, the IHC had barred the government from appointing a new chairman till the case is decided.

Dr Banuri was appointed in May 2018 by former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for a four-year term and his tenure was due to end in May 2022.