New Delhi: The decades-long feud between Pakistani nuclear physicist Pervez Hoodbhoy and Atta-ur-Rahman, former chairman of PM’s Task Force on Science and Technology, over Pakistan’s higher education system still remains unresolved. Rahman’s recent wish to “mend all bridges” with Hoodbhoy did not seem to suffice with just an expression of regret.
In an April email exchange made public recently, Rahman asked Hoodbhoy to let “bygones be bygones” and expressed “sincere regrets”. Rahman added that he was almost 80 and not keeping well. Hoodbhoy, while wishing Rahman no ill, said that he was still “squarely responsible for having single-handedly engineered the destruction of Pakistan’s higher education system.” The physicist also wanted Rahman to go on national television to confess before the people and beg for forgiveness.
The tussle between the two Pakistani scholars began two decades ago when the Pakistan Higher Education Commission (HEC) came into existence in 2002. Rahman was the first chairman of the institution, which was meant to fund, regulate and accredit the higher education institutions in the country. Hoodbhoy has always been a vocal critic of the policies of the HEC. He said it was a good idea to disband an institution “whose budget from 2002 to 2008 rose by an astounding seven times — a world record. But a good chunk was squandered on various delusional mega-projects that failed spectacularly”.
When contacted by ThePrint over mail, Hoodbhoy affirmed the email...
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