Six more join the list

The list of fake or invalid degree holders swells to 55 with the addition of six more legislators.

ISLAMABAD: With the addition of another six legislators to the list of fake or invalid degree holders, the number has now climbed to 55, sources in the Higher Education Commission (HEC) sources told The Express Tribune.

The updated list submitted by the HEC to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) includes the following new names: Mazhar Hiyat, member National Assembly, Shaukat Aziz, Sabina Khan Riaz, Rana Abdul Rauf and Irshad Ahmed Khan, members Punjab Assembly and Jam Saifullah Khan, member Sindh Assembly.

Initially it was the National Assembly standing committee that had asked the HEC to verify the degrees of law makers. Later the Supreme Court gave similar directions to the ECP and asked the commission to take action against the cheats.

According to the latest updates, a total of 388 degrees have been declared valid by the HEC, 55 have been found to be fake or invalid while the degree-related cases of 15 legislators are pending in courts.

In the latest list, degrees of 16 more pubic representatives have also been found to be genuine.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2010.