ISLAMABAD, Nov 8: The establishment division on Friday informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that after rejection of the summary to extend the tenure of Dr Javed R. Laghari as the Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairman, another summary was being prepared by the ministry concerned to fill the post.

During the hearing of a petition seeking appointment of the HEC chairperson, Amjad Saeed Awan, a section officer of the establishment division, submitted a report to Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui.

The report stated that the tenure of Dr Laghari expired on August 26.

On July 30, the Ministry of Education, Training and Standard in Higher Education moved a summary to the prime minister to extend Dr Laghari`scontract for another four years or allow the initiation of the process of filling the post as per the prescribed procedure.

On August 8, the prime minister secretariat rejected the summary for extension of Dr Laghari`s tenure.

`The prime minister desired a note regarding the proposed process for filling the position,` it added.

According to the report, the summary of July 30 had proposed that being from the smaller province of Sindh and because of his performance Dr Laghari may be given four years` extension.

According to the documents, the establishment division included an objection in the summary before forwarding it to the prime minister secretariat saying `the case regarding extension in tenure of Dr Laghari is required to be placed before the performance evaluation com-mittee in terms of the finance division`s memorandum.

The establishment division, however, proposed that `the charge of the post may be given to Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, the executive director, who was the seniormost officer of the HEC, until the appointment of the regular chairperson.

Justice Siddiqui on October 22 had issued notice to the secretary cabinet division in a writ petition seeking directions from the court to the federal government to complete the process for the appointment of the HEC chief.

Petitioner Khawaja Aurang Zeb through his counsel Barrister Afzal Hussain had requested the court to direct the federal government to appoint someone as the HEC chairperson.

The court adjourned further hearing of the matter till December 26.