PAKISTAN: Degrees of 228 lawmakers to be verified

20 June 2010

Pakistan's Election Commission has sent the degrees of 228 lawmakers to the national assembly's standing committee on education, for their onward transmission to the Higher Education Commission for verification, Dawn learned last Monday, reports Iftikhar A Khan.

The Election Commission sent the degrees of 872 lawmakers to the committee on 24 May.

The national assembly panel headed by Abid Sher Ali ordered the unusual step after a number of lawmakers were found to be holding fake degrees, with reports suggesting that up to 150 of them could be involved. The committee has decided to get the degrees of all lawmakers verified.
Full report on the Dawn site

Usman Manzoor writes for The News that a Pandora's box has been opened after two members of the national assembly, Jamshed Dasti and Nazir Jatt, resigned after their degrees were found to be fake in a Supreme Court case. Many more elected representatives fear they may also be in trouble. Questions are already being raised about the future of other dubious degree holders and on top of the list is Pakistan president, who holds a degree in economics and business administration from Pedinton School in London.
Full report on The News site

The News also reports that the Higher Education Commission will complete the scrutiny of MPs' degrees by the end of this month. Many MPs are said to have obtained fake degrees to contest the February 2008 polls, for which graduation was the minimum qualification. At least 297 of 1,170 legislators at the Centre and in the provinces have not yet submitted their educational qualification documents to the commission. Intriguingly, the majority of senators - 53 - have failed to supply qualification documents to the commission through the Election Commission of Pakistan. The commission has forbidden the entry of any 'irrelevant' people to its premises, including legislators with allegedly dubious credentials.
Full report on The News site

Receive UWN's free weekly e-newsletters

Sponsored Article

Getting to net zero, one community at a time

University of Victoria staff

Accelerating Community Energy Transformation is a University of Victoria-led collaborative initiative that brings together over 40 partners, including Indigenous knowledge keepers and community leaders, to create innovative place-based solutions for energy system transformation.

Promoted by the University of Victoria.

Sponsored Article

Africa pays a premium for global climate change sluggishness

Stellenbosch University staff

Africa needs to stop paying the price for the rest of the world’s recalcitrance to act fast enough in response to the irrefutable conclusions that climate change is real and that the impact of global warming could be devasting, says Professor Guy Midgley, interim director of the School for Climate Studies at Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

Promoted by Stellenbosch University.

Sponsored Article

Innovations to ensure energy savings in a hot, arid climate

UAE University staff

Researchers from the United Arab Emirates University have shown that the potential benefits of building energy savings and a cooler indoor environment, as well as improved cooling effect on air temperature at pedestrian level, strongly indicate that a cool roof with high solar reflectance and albedo is a promising strategy for buildings in regions with hot, arid climates.

Promoted by United Arab Emirates University.

Sponsored Article

A new global university ranking with an ethical mission

Aftab Dean

A new university ranking system aims to serve as a catalyst for positive transformation in higher education, ensuring that universities create an environment grounded in integrity and sustainability that inspires and supports students and staff in the development of novel solutions to global challenges.

Promoted by Globethics.net.

Sponsored Article

SDG progress report launches university into new territory

University of Pretoria staff

In the publication of its first progress report on its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, the University of Pretoria is navigating new territory at the same time as it is acknowledging its clear stewardship role in protecting the environment and biodiversity.

Promoted by the University of Pretoria.