Fake degree fallout

Gilgit-Baltistan’s chief minister was sent packing after the region’s high court determined he had used a fake degree from the University of London to apply for a license from the GB Bar Council.

The case does, however, raise several questions about the quality of vetting done by the ECP and the local bar council, since Khurshid Khan had been serving as chief minister for well over two years before anyone actually looked at his credentials.

The disqualified legislator had actually joined the bar council using an allegedly fake American degree, which his opponents claim was issued by the fake degree mill Axact. However, after those documents were challenged by the petitioner, Khurshid allegedly swapped that degree out for another one. Khurshid says he will challenge the ruling in the G-B Supreme Appellate Court, which is unsurprising, but the PTI’s quick pledge of support for a man convicted of using fraudulent documents is a bit surprising. The fact the PTI statement underscored how the party has a clear majority in the G-B Assembly actually makes us wonder why they would staunchly defend the embattled former CM instead of quietly picking his replacement. Apart from the harshness of the statement, it is striking that the statement’s authors do not realise that nominating and supporting someone convicted of using fake documents seems to be the real insult of the electorate. Also notable was the fact that hours before Khurshid’s disqualification, a no-confidence motion had been submitted against him in the assembly.

It seems Khurshid may have lost the support of many in his own party even before the verdict. If that really is the case, we can be sure of an entertaining race for the vacant chief ministership.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2023.

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