Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Bogus degree holders in the Overseas Pakistani Foundation (OPF) have united and started a move against the management of the department.

The administration of the OPF has also adopted a firm stance against the alliance of the fake degree holder by issuing an order that the pay and allowances would be stopped of those employees who failed to get their degrees verified by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) by February 28.

The OPF’s Human Resource Department has issued the final deadline for the verification of the degrees. Most of the employees have gotten their degrees verified by the HEC personally in compliance with the orders, but the bogus degree holders are now in a difficult situation. Nauman Ali, an officer working as an additional director, is also said to have a fake MBA degree, as he has refused to go to the HEC for verification. Sources said that his promotion to the higher grade was very near, but on the other hand his degree had become an issue.

Likewise, Assistant Director Merajul Haq’s forgery has been proved but he was not dismissed from the service. Sources said that he had two domicile certificates, but it was not a requirement of the OPF at the time of his appointment.

The sources also told this reporter that the former chief finance officer (CFO), who raised his voice against the corruption in the functionary, had tendered his resignation. After that, interviews of some 20 candidates were held for appointment on his place. But the authority appointed a person, Talal Chand, whose name was not even included in the list of the candidates.The fake degree holders have threatened the administration to stop the process of verification, but the management has shown some courage against them and told them that in case of non-verification of degrees within the stipulated period, they would have to face dire consequences.

When this scribe contacted Director General Qazi Sajid, he said that there would be no compromise on the issue of degree verification. He said that he would take any bitter decision in the interest of the department.

He refused to comment on the appointment of the CFO by saying that he had no information on the issue. However, he assured that he would look into the matter. He said that he would contact the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis secretary and ask him to take action against the OPF MD to clear the matter.