RHC orders sacking of PIA steward for holding fake degree

Rasheed failed in the graduation examination, but with the help of junior clerk managed to acquire forged mark sheet

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi High Court has ordered the sacking of a PIA steward, who served the national flag carrier for 23 years, for holding fake BA degree, cancelling a stay order against his removal from job.

Flight steward Arshad Rasheed started his career with PIA in 1996. He appeared in BA final examination in 1992 at the Punjab University but could not clear the English paper. He then managed to obtain a fake mark sheet with the help of a junior clerk.

In an inquiry, PIA had sent a reference to the varsity for the verification of degrees of 305 of its employees, after which a disciplinary committee was constituted.

Rasheed was indicted on February 2016 whereas the clerk involved was suspended. Rasheed appeared before the disciplinary committee in October 2018 where he denied the charge of failing in examination, after which the matter was sent to Punjab forensic laboratory.

The tampering of mark sheet was proven by the forensic laboratory and Rasheed’s result was cancelled in January, 2018.

Punjab University’s legal adviser appeared before the high court and presented the report on the steward’s fake degree, on which the court cancelled the stay order against his removal from job and disposed of the case.