Khan’s is the seventh name on a list on the website listing those against whom plagiarism investigations are underway.
ISLAMABAD:
Plagiarism is equivalent to a capital crime in the world of education, yet an educator accused of that very offence has still managed to get promoted by the government.
Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Chairperson Shaheen Khan, who was found guilty of plagiarism by an Higher Education Commission (HEC) anti-plagiarism committee, has been promoted to Grade-21 in a clear violation of the anti-plagiarism policy.
Khan was the director general (DG) for sports at the inception of the HEC, and was appointed FBISE chairperson in 2009. In a recent meeting at the HEC, she was granted a time-scale promotion by a selection board along with other two officers in the same grade. Currently her status is DG on deputation.
The University of Karachi had awarded a PhD degree to Shaheen in 2009. In 2010, Shaheen Khan’s case was sent to the university’s Political Science department. As per policy, the case was to be concluded within 90 days, but even after a year, the university did not reply.
Then on October 26, 2011, an HEC committee comprising university professors and HEC Quality Assurance (QA) DG Zia Batool and QA Deputy Director Muneer Ahmed began looking into Khan’s Karachi University doctoral dissertation. Referring to chapters three and four of her thesis, it found that “the thesis contains substantial portions that are a translation from the ECO Guide Book,” which is an Iranian government publication.
In addition, her Karachi University degree was granted after her Political Science thesis was evaluated by business and finance experts instead of relevant degree holders.
Referring to Karachi University’s attempt to defend the degree it awarded by not initiating a plagiarism inquiry when asked, and later allowing Khan to retroactively source the plagiarised material, the committee said, “The revision of a thesis through incorporation of quotations marks is, in fact, a tacit acknowledgement of plagiarism in the original thesis. The PhD dissertation of Shaheen Khan, therefore, falls under the category of “Severe Plagiarism” as per the HEC plagiarism policy.”
The committee also said the dissertation did not even fulfil the basic structural requirements of a dissertation including review of literature, a statement of hypothesis and corresponding methodology.
As a result, the HEC decided to withdraw the PhD degree awarded to Khan, but on the same day, she moved the Islamabad High Court and got a stay order before HEC could take further action.
HEC DG Administration Awais Ahmed defended the promotion while talking to The Express Tribune. “There has not been any disciplinary action against Khan and this is nothing but a routine promotion, which is as per HEC rules,” he said.
However, QA Deputy Director Ahmed told The Express Tribune that she is accused of plagiarism and should not get any kind of benefit from the HEC.
Khan’s is the seventh name on a list on the website listing those against whom plagiarism investigations are underway.
An officer involved in the investigation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, felt the promotion is a clear violation of the HEC plagiarism rules.
HEC Chairperson Javaid R Laghari said the time-scale promotions were a policy decision. “Besides,” he continued, “She is on deputation and will not hold charge in her new status until the HEC goes through her performance evaluation report.” He said if the report finds her guilty of any malpractice, the HEC will follow through as per procedure.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 6th, 2013.
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