Adil Najam
The Lahore High Court has declared Mudassir Qayyum Nahira, a PML-N member of the national assembly, disqualified because he holds a fake degree. Elected form NA-100 Gujranwalla. The idea that those holding fake degrees should be disqualified – not just for the ‘fakeness’ of their education but also for the sheer act of lying and making a fool of the very people they are supposed to be representing – is a good one.
It is something that we at ATP have written about before and we feel fairly strongly about. I for one welcome the decision by the National Assembly that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) should verify the degrees of all 873 parliamentarians. That should be a normal and continual function of the HEC. I am also glad that this issue has been gaining such momentum.
Having said that – and having established that if Mr. Nahira’s degree is fake then he should be disqualified – the few details of the story that we know (and we really know very few) do seem to suggest that this may be more a case of catching a technicality because an opponent pushed for it rather than a real case of the honorable court being annoyed and incensed at an act of cheating and lying. Even so, it is good that the issue is highlighted. But not enough.
It seems that Mr. Nahira actually has a degree – from the University of Bahawalpur – but he obtained it while he was under suspension from the Punjab University and without obtaining a ‘no objection certificate’ (NOC) from the Punjab University. I do not know why he ha been suspended from the Punjab University (and would really like to know). But I am glad that he did actually complete the education in Bahawalpur. Because education is always a good thing; even when done half-heartedly.
So, I will wait for more details on this case, I applaud the court for going after the issue, but we need to go beyond the technicalities to the even bigger issue remains of those who blatantly lie about being what they are not and buying fake degrees without obtaining any education at all. Indeed, the biggest issue of all is creating a polity where lying to citizens in any dimension is not tolerated.
The primary focus of Electronic and Print Media is on fake degree issue .It seems like by kicking out fake degree holders bring a amazing revolution in the Parlimentary Democracy of Pakistan and Psuedo Champions of Democracy and Leaders of Democraic Parties, will prove to the foolish 170 million people of Pakistan that they have revived the Umar Laws and soon after Scandinavia , these Charismatic Saviours of Pakistan would be going to implement Unparalleled Justice System of Umar Farooq(ra) in all areas and spectrums of life here.Whom you people are fooling ! The same Parlimentary Democracy in which Internal Party Elections are virtually banned and from 342 NA members and 100 Senate members , those who have atleast courage to vote against this Democratical Dictatorship were only 3 , Javed Hashmi, Saad Rafique and Kashmala Tariq. Where the parties are mere Circus Show of Sharifs , Chaudris,Walis, Bhuttos and Diesel Smuggler Realtives and thier is no place for Javed Hashmi , Saad Rafique , Senator (retd) Anwar Baig , Sardar Asif Ahmed Ali , Hussain Haqqani , Tariq Azeem Hussain Syed like people to contest for the Chairmanship of thier parties and become Prime Minister or President because they are not sugar-cement-steel-industrial goons .Leadership demands Swiss , Spanis Accounts , London and Duai Flats moreover it needs Sugar-Cement Cartelization to sold 24/g sugar to Rs. 75/kg , it needs 2 Crore Tiger imported for Hamza Shahbaz, it demands Rs 4 crore Rolls Royce for PM son, 5 billion US dollars scam in LNG and Mr.NaQamar still come with latest tie suits and all ut=spoken Chamipon of Democracy , Nisar Chairman Public Accounts Committe who is hiding Rs 4 billion Farud File for 6 months , all 342 members and 100 senate to unite against Judiacary to pick and choose judges on party affiliation bases and Prince of Raiwind not to deal with another Sajjad Ali Shah in future, where 93 member Cabinet will remain despite of the so called 18th amenment and no focus of HEC funds Reduction from Rs. 34 billion in 2006-2007 in Dictator era to Rs. 15.6 in Awami Government !
HEC Letter to PM Gillani for Asking Funds
246 Projects in all Engineering and General Universities of Pakistan have to be stopped completely or if not than Slow Down excessively because of only Rs.15.6 Arab allocated for HEC to manage all University Projects, Labs, Equipments , Final Year Projects Funding for Engineering Universities, 9000+ HEC Scholars studying abroad, new Scholars who have passed NTS and GRE tests but waiting to leave Pakistan due to no funds available.This is such shameful situation in which country premier higher education body beging for few billion Rs. for its Universities and Students while Babar Awan is distributing Bribery to counter upcoming Judicial Tension among Lawyers and those shameless lawyers also admit that this is nothing but bribery of Billions of Rs. on PAF Private Planes and criticize Government Policies yet they are happy to grab this money.Such a Hypocrite Society we are living in ! Punjab University Dr.Kamran Mujhahid held meeting yesterday to come up with Funds Reduction for PU.Dr.Pirzada Qasim said yestreday like Schools , his Karachi University and other Universities of Pakistan would become Peeli Universities just like Peelai Schools , Govermnet Yellow and Rotten Infrastructure exists in whole Country.This is due to reason like all Universities all across Pakistan , Karach University is also lacking Severe Lack of Funds and have to stop all ongoing Projects.
This is too harsh a treatment. The reasons behind why legislators acquire fake degrees should be analyzed. After all, these legislators gain entry into NA through their hard work and perseverance. The MNA in question needs to be given a chance to explain. Some incentive needs to be built in so they can convert this fake degree into a real one at some point. Instead of just dismissing them, they need to be shown some dignity. May be Govt can organize some classes so they can convert all such degrees into respectable and acceptable ones. Fake degrees themselves are not the issue. It is the degree of fakeness that concerns most citizens. Were these fake to begin with and how can we surmount the ‘Dastiness’ (fakeness) in these degrees. This is not to belittle what the court has said, but everyone needs a breather. All in all, this is not a good move for the legislative health of Pakistan.
This should have been an issue for Election Commission to address. That would have also affirmed that the EC is an independent body.
Of course, EC could have asked HEC to verify, if necessary. But this is not the HEC nor the LHC issue.
Everyone does not need to jump into everyone else’s business, especially, if you want EC to be independent.
Its Not New in Pakistan so Its ok with this if Jamsad dasti can win on fake degree than why this person can not
Oh man, he could have easily passed this simple exam. Why dont rich kids study? yara kuch to perh leytey takeh maa baap ka naam ooncha ho jata