Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Stern action has been launched against fake degree holders and NAB stricken officers of Overseas Pakistan Foundation (OPF) amid reports that management has sent a letter to FIA seeking initiation of legal proceedings against fake degree holding employees without fail.

On the other hand, the noose is all set to be tightened around officers and former DGs who are said to be behind these appointments. Daily Times sources said that the Chairman Board of Governors Barrister Amjad Malik directed OPF management to take immediate action against NAB stricken employees and fake degree holders and award exemplary punishment to them.

In the wake of crystal clear directives of the Board of governors, the OPF management has removed director housing project Iqbal Shah from his seat who had been reappointed on his seat through plea bargain. Action has also been initiated against facilitators as to why they had reappointed such a person in the project wherein he was found involved in corruption of millions of rupees.

A decision has been taken to write a letter to NAB asking them to register a case and bring to justice the 15 officers and subordinate employees and their facilitators who were removed from service for holding fake degrees. On the other side, a letter has been written from the platform of overseas ministry establishment division to make it binding on the respective departments to take punitive action against officers who, during their deputation period, made illegal appointments in OPF and later returned to their parent departments.

OPF sources told Daily Times proceedings has been initiated against the fake degree holding officers who are still serving in the department.

Initially, degrees held by additional director education Noman had been called to question and the degrees held by other officers including assistant director Miraj ul Haq and Rizwan Khanzada have also come under scrutiny. The department has collected irrefutable evidence against them and steps are being taken to take action. A major chunk of fake degree holders was recruited by successive governments.

Sources said that the OPF administration has evolved a new contract where candidates will have to get their degrees verified before collecting their appointment letter. Later, the department will also move the process of verification of their degrees forward at government level. If the degree of any candidate is proved fake, then action will be taken by the FIA.

Director General HR Qazi Sajid told Daily Times a decision was taken in a previous meeting of the board of governors to take immediate action against fake degree holders and NAB stricken officers. All necessary measures have been taken in this regard. Such a strategy is being worked out in OPF so that no influential will be able to escape punishment.

He declined to say how many people were conducting the inquiry at present. Sources said that there are about 25 officers of OPF who are fake degree holders.