A strong contender for the post of chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan, Dr Zia-ul-Haq, has withdrawn from the race, opting not to participate in the interview process. His withdrawal has intensified expectations of a close contest among the remaining three leading candidates: Dr Sarosh Hashmat Lodi from Sindh, Dr Niaz Ahmad from Islamabad, and Dr Muhammad Ali Shah from Punjab.
Dr Zia-ul-Haq, who currently serves as vice chancellor of the Khyber Medical University (KMU) Peshawar, has already been selected for the position of HEC executive director (ED) for a four-year term, though his notification is yet to be issued.
In a letter addressed to Federal Minister for Education Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqi on Monday, Dr Zia-ul-Haq expressed gratitude for being shortlisted among 30 candidates out of more than 500 applicants by the search committee headed by the federal minister. He reaffirmed his confidence in the committee but stated that since he had already been selected as ED, it would be neither ethically appropriate nor administratively advisable to pursue the chairman’s position.
He wrote that appearing for the chairman’s interview after being chosen as ED could lead to “potential delays or ambiguity” in the appointment process. Therefore, he was formally withdrawing his candidature for the post.
Dr Zia-ul-Haq termed the timely process of appointing candidates to two key positions at the HEC a positive step, describing it as vital for “institutional transparency, stability, and good governance.” He reiterated his commitment to serving the commission and the academic community, adding that he looked forward to contributing meaningfully to HEC’s reform agenda “with dedication, integrity, and a strong sense of national purpose.”
Meanwhile, Section Officer Karishma of the Federal Ministry of Education has issued interview call letters to all 30 shortlisted candidates. The list includes: Dr Sarosh Hashmat Lodi, Dr Niaz Ahmad, Dr Muhammad Ali Shah, Dr Madad Ali Shah, Dr Zia-ul-Haq, Dr Saleem Raza Samo, Dr Niaz Ahmad (second candidate by same name), Dr Habib, Dr Jameel Ahmad, Dr Zia-ul-Qayoom, Dr Haider Abbas, Dr Rubina Farooq, Dr Zahoor Baloch, Dr Basheer Ahmad, Dr Hassan Sher, Dr Zakria Zakir, Dr Gul Zaman, Dr Hafiz Muhammad Aslam Malik, Dr Muhammad Tufail, Dr Bakht Jahan, Dr Khalid Hafeez, Dr Masood Butt, Dr Sarfraz Khurshid, Dr Basheer Ahmad (another candidate with same name), Dr Salman Tahir, Dr Muhammad Idrees, Dr Muhammad Afzal, Dr Yasir Ayaz, and Dr Muhammad Abdul Qadeer. Interviews for the Chairman HEC position will be held on November 26 and 27 at the Ministry of Education in Islamabad.
