Out of the 550 faculty members at the University of Karachi (KU), 307 signed a petition to revert the university’s decision to award Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik with an honorary doctorate degree.
The KU Teachers Guild and faculty members launched a three-day campaign and plan to submit the petition to the chancellor, syndicate and Chief Justice of Pakistan. While talking to The Express Tribune, the pro-vice chancellor Dr Shahana Urooj Kazmi said that the chancellor and vice-chancellor had the authority to award an honorary degree to whoever they wanted. The guild’s general secretary Dr Shakeel Farooqui, however disagreed with Kazmi’s statement and said that the chancellor and vice-chancellor had presented three candidates for an honorary doctorate and they had been rejected by the syndicate. Meanwhile, more than 60 members of the faculty have asked the KU teachers society to hold an emergency general body meeting and demand that Malik’s degree should be taken back.
Applied chemistry professor Dr Riaz Ahmed said that it was now mandatory for the teachers society president to call a meeting in the next 24 hours. He added that if the meeting was held, then the degree would be taken back. “This is not a joke, the degree has been given to a man of questionable integrity,” he said. A blog for KU alumni has also been launched by the Teachers Guild - it was dubbed ‘ARM PhD’ for Abdul Rehman Malik’s PhD.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 16th, 2011.
COMMENTS (24)
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Another good addition in the list of ;doctors'. We already have DOCTOR Amir Liaqaat Hussain.and DOCTOR Babar Awan. Parha likha Pakistan
Someone said that Karachi University granted him the degree for his great scientific achievement of conversion of apple --> banana. However KU itself became Banana University just like a banana republic
Gross intellectual bankruptcy on the part of the chancellor and vice-chancellor! They brought a bad spot on the good name of Karachi University.
After this who will accept here and there ,any degree of the University of Karachi!,But it will make no difference as a lot of fake degree holders sit as MNAs, MPAs in the parliament.Bear one more.But to tell the truth a PhD degree doesn't suit him.
His Master degree is not yet verified by HEC too. May be that is also a fraud!
I hold a Masters from the Karachi University. But today I am ashamed to say that I was ever a part of the KU. Awarding a doctorate to Mr. R. Malik is an act of shame for all the students, past and present, of the University. The Chancellor, who initiated this, and the Vice Chancellor are both to be held accountable. Mr. R. Malik has done nothing to deserve this and this decision must be reversed. Otherwise it will remain a blot on the University's reputation. Mr. R. Malik has done nothing for peace either in Karachi or in Sindh. Even otherwise he is not in any way a man of letters. In fact he and peace are antonyms.
Hey university of karachi can you please post your degree rate list too. Many people are willing to pay for it and you guys can make good money.
Malik looks pleasantly surprised. I'll willing to use his photo as a marketing tool too. May be a tag line like
If Malik can get it so you can!
What a sigh of relief to read this news ! We are still alive ! Its not a totally gone thing. If one mistake is made, you don't make another one to cover it up.........you admit the mistake and try to fix it! Keep it up teachers !
If my memory serves me right, Mr.Rehman Malik was convicted by Lahore High Court and is only pardoned by the President. That does not overturn his conviction. I doubt another country will keep a convict in cabinet. Well done Karachi University, you go into the Guiness Book of Records.
Three cheers for the Pakistani democracy...
Please all of you join peaceful protest against this decision outside University of Karachi, Silver Jubilee Gate at 1 pm on Monday the 17th October, 2011.
This is not graceful act to award Ph.D degree to such a person who has ugly reputation. It is shameful act for the old students of KU, who were feeling proud being old students of KU and rendering the best services in Pakistan and abroad. This act of VC and Chancellor would ruin the image of KU and its students. KU will loose its pride and integrity and credibility.
R.Malik can't even recite Surah Ikhlas and yet he has been awarded by Phd degree. Shame on Ishrat and shame on Malik.
I don’t know why there is so much fuss going on awarding the Honorary PhD Degree to Federal Minister for Interior Mr. Rehman Malik.
People who are creating fuss on this issue should also raise hue and cry over hundreds of fake PhD Degrees that has been acquired by Pakistanis from foreign countries and yet they write “Doctor” along with their name.
These does not only limit to the parliamentarians, but also to so many other people who are serving in different cadres.
It is the prerogative of the Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor of KU to award a PhD Degree to any one they deem fit for that.
well,he had to be rewarded for his services to a karachi basead political party.
why you guys are fighting - look at the happy face of Dr. Rehman Malik and have some mercy... :D
On a serious note, Rehman Malik is the most active Minister in PPP Government and he has done a good job, he speaks up against each crime and at least promise to eradicate the terrorism from Pakistan without fearing danger to his life.
Why didn't you stop your Chancellor or VP before awarding this honorary degree? Were were the Teacher Guild at that time?
Now let it be as it is, keep focus on your teachings etc.
Good job teachers, students should join too.
Why just 307 members sign petition to revert this act. I appeal all the teachers community through out Pakistan to take action against just heinous act. But unfortunately, the worst truth is that this action can't be reverted because this is Pakistan where every eccentric action by ameer and powerful people is taken as a positive and correct, where every act done by high profile persons are supported by the judiciary of Pakistan but if such action is carried out by any middle class person our law makers and our law present 1000s of references to revert such acts. kya hoga Pakistan ka?
This is s shame and disgrace to all of us!!! being the student of Karachi university I cant except that a person like Rehman Malick gets the degree of Ph.d for nothing when I am striving so hard to get it why the partiality .. And degree of peace... WTH...!!!! what good did he actually do to Karachi in restoring peace!!! Thats just not right.. Shame on Eshrat-ul-Ibad Khan ...I I would've applauded if he would've awarded Rehman Malick even a bachelors degree as honorary from IBA... STOP USING KARACHI UNIVERSITY AS YOUR PLEASING TOOL POLITICIANS!!!!
Shame! First we have disgraced highest national award and now putting a black spot on our educational system. Very sad. :(