ISLAMABAD: Former students of National College of Computer Science, now called University of South Asia, filed a writ petition in the Islamabad High Court. The 73 petitioners are aggrieved of the fact that their degrees dating back to 2000 are not being verified and validated by the HEC. University of South Asia is a chartered body established through two Acts of provincial assembly, the Institute of South Asia Act 2003 and University of South Asia Act 2005. The HEC, the main respondent in the petition, had promised the petitioners that their degrees would be validated and verified after re-issuance by the University of South Asia. With the exception of one petitioner, none of the other petitioners have been issued degrees. The one petitioner who has been issued a degree as per the guidelines of HEC has nevertheless been denied validation and verification by HEC despite repeated promises. Yasser Latif Hamdani, counsel, told the reporters that there are no less than 2,700 other such students who have been denied their constitutional rights to life and trade through the arbitrary, capricious and ultimately malicious actions of HEC and University of South Asia. Hamdani has called upon the remaining students to join in the litigation in Islamabad to ensure that justice is finally done and a long standing issue is resolved through constitutional means. The students of NCCS/USA have been suffering greatly being denied jobs, immigration and prospects for further education. Published in Daily Times, June 22nd, 2017.