ISLAMABAD: Transparent and merit based appointment of Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairperson has been urged through a letter addressed to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, HEC controlling authority and members of search committee for appointment of HEC chairperson. The letter written by former Election Commission of Pakistan secretary and National Democratic Foundation (NDF) chairperson, states that higher education institutions are the places where primarily the future leaders are nurtured and if unlawful practices or even an impression of such practices is rampant in these places then it leaves a deep impression in the young minds that perhaps success is impossible to be achieved without adopting those so-called norms of the society. The NDF is of the view that if right appointments are made at the top positions then a great difference can be created, therefore, the NDF proposes that while the recent search committee for appointment of HEC chairperson should look into the technical competencies of the candidates. The judiciary, National Accountability Bureau and Federal Investigation Agency should be asked to perform a detailed background check on the potential candidates to identify if there are any wrongdoings eclipsing them. Introduction of this small step in the search process of future leaders in higher education would certainly do a great deal of service in cleansing the society in a sustainable manner. The search committee constituted for the appointment of the chairman may perform initial scrutiny of the received applications and before calling the shortlisted candidates for interviews may forward their biographies to the relevant institutions to seek a detailed background check. Only those candidates from the shortlisted ones should be called for further processing who are found to be morally and financially clean. The letter also suggests that the short listing process should be undertaken under the direct supervision of all the members of the search committee to ensure transparency, openness and merit as per prescribed criteria laid down in HEC Ordinance 2002. The letter mentions that some personalities with fake credentials and controversial backgrounds have already damaged the higher education sector of Pakistan through misuse of authority and victimisation. It is high time that such persons should be avoided to lead this prestigious national institution which has more than a Rs 90 billion annual budget. The letter reads that as per clause 19 of HEC Ordnance 2002, the chairperson, members and officers shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of Section 21 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The public servants should be neat and clean with visionary approach. Published in Daily Times, March 21st 2018.