Bushra Anjum claims that education minister has not only appointed Tayyaba as interim VC but also elevated her to professor
Senator Bushra Anjum. Photo: Screengrab
Senator Bushra Anjum Butt on Wednesday questioned the tenure of the Vice Chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design (PIFD) and the release of more than Rs2 billion in institutional funds while criticizing the federal education minister for repeatedly missing meetings of the Senate Standing Committee on Education and flouting its directives.
The senator accused the minister of ignoring the committee’s rulings in a dispute involving the tenure of Hina Tayyaba, vice chancellor of the PIFD. During a meeting of the Senate body this week, Butt said the education minister had not taken the committee seriously.
“I just want to bring this matter to everyone’s attention and to the chairman of the Standing Committee on Education. I feel it is time for the Minister of Education to take the Senate seriously. I have attended the meetings, but the Minister has never been there,” she said.
She said the committee had held six to seven meetings on the matter, raising questions about “abuse of power and financial embezzlement.” According to Butt, the committee ruled that Tayyaba’s tenure ended in December and that she should step aside, with any investigations conducted “in a transparent manner.”
Despite the ruling, the senator alleged that the minister not only appointed Tayyaba as interim vice-chancellor but also elevated her to professor and approved the release of more than Rs2 billion in institutional funds under her authority.
“So I feel this makes a mockery of the Senate Standing Committee. I would appreciate it if this matter is transferred to the Privileges Committee and I will also refer it to the Finance Committee,” she said.
“If the standing committee’s role is merely a formality, then tell me – or if it is a platform where people knock on the door and ask for justice – so that I can work accordingly,” she added, stating that she wanted the minister to explain why he did not follow the committee’s decision.
The senator further alleged that Higher Education Commission (HEC) officials had taken the position that the Senate had no authority to question the tenure of a Vice-Chancellor. “We need to get this house under control,” she concluded.
