The Senate Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges on Monday demanded the complete record of the alleged illegal continuation of Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD) Vice Chancellor Hina Tayyaba Khalil.
The meeting was held at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi. The committee mainly took up a motion moved by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt against the vice chancellor for failing to attend a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training.
Senator Butt alleged that the contractual tenure of the vice chancellor expired in December 2025, but she has continued to hold office. She also pointed to a conflict of interest, stating that the sister of the vice chancellor is among the candidates for the new post, for which a search committee has been formed.
She further alleged that the federal education minister has supported the incumbent for years. PIFD representatives presented their version of events during the meeting.
The chairman directed Deepak Perwani and Sehyr Saigol, members of the PIFD Senate, to appear in person at the next meeting rather than join through video link. He expressed serious reservations about the affairs, stating that appointments and promotions based on nepotism and personal preference were affecting the performance of the institute.
He said the committee would examine all matters strictly on merit and would soon inform the president of Pakistan through a formal letter to the secretary to the president. He sought clarification on the legal status of any extension granted to the vice chancellor and directed the ministry to produce all documents related to her appointment and extension.
The committee also ordered that the 13 individuals who signed the response submitted to the privileges committee be summoned. The chairman noted that correspondence between the committee and PIFD had been shared by the institute on other platforms and termed the act highly inappropriate and unprofessional.
Senators Saadia Abbasi, Jan Muhammad, Hafiz Abdul Karim, Dost Ali Jaisar, Asad Qasim and Palwasha Muhammad Zai Khan also attended the meeting. The minister for parliamentary affairs, the federal education minister, officials of the relevant ministry and representatives of the Higher Education Commission will attend the next meeting.
