ISLAMABAD: Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervez Ashraf on Thursday termedtheHigherEducation Commission (HEC)`s letter to universities regarding Holi celebrations illegal and unconstitutional.

The speaker gave the rul-ing after minority as well as Muslim lawmakers expressed their concerns in the House.

In response to speeches made by Ramesh Lal and Kesoo Mal Kheeal Das and PPP MNA Shahida Rehmani, education minster Rana Tanveer Hussain told the house that last night when the matter came into his notice hetook prompt action.

`The letter in question was written by HEC without taking the education ministry on board. The matter came into my notice at 10pm.

I immediately directed HEC to withdraw it. After opening their office, the HEC cancelled it around 4am. Nobody has any objections regarding Holi celebrations, therefore,the controversy should now end now,` the minster said and added that the HEC had no mandate to write such a letter.

`They should keep focus on quality of education and do regulations work,` he said, adding that vice chancellors had the right to take decisions regarding any functions on campuses.