'A degree is a degree'

16 Jul, 2010

Justice Ramday was ashamed reading headlines about fake degrees during his recent stay in Singapore. But the political leadership has no shame, defending criminals, though the world media is not oblivious like parliamentarians.
The following are the only few references from world newspapers: "A degree is a degree," said chief minister of Balochistan Nawab Aslam Raisani, when asked about the issue by reporters. "Whether fake or genuine, it's a degree. It makes no difference." (July 30, Vancouver Sun)
"A degree is a degree! Whether fake or genuine, it's a degree! It makes no difference!" Balochistan chief minister Nawab Aslam Raisani, who claims a master's in political science, shouted at a gaggle of reporters on Tuesday. (June 29, Associated Press) "A degree is a degree," said Nawab Aslam Raisani, chief minister of Balochistan when asked about the issue by reporters. (June 30, Telegraph UK)
"A degree is a degree! Whether fake or genuine, it's a degree! It makes no difference!" Nawab Aslam Raisani, the chief minister from Balochistan province, who claims to have a master's degree in political science, shouted at reporters (June 30, Aljazeera)
"A degree is a degree! Whether fake or genuine, it's a degree! It makes no difference!" Nawab Aslam Raisani, Balochistan province chief minister, who says he has a master's in political science, shouted at a gaggle of reporters yesterday. (June 30, Boston Globe)
In the latest case of its kind in Pakistan, the Lahore High Court on Wednesday disqualified Yasir Raza, a provincial legislator, found guilty of having submitted a fake college certificate (June 30, Financial Times).
"A degree is degree, whether it is fake or genuine. It makes no difference," Zardari's ally and chief minister of Balochistan province, Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani, said (June 30, Jakarta Globe). The scandal does not inspire confidence in politicians' integrity. Some claimed to have studied at non-existent universities; others forged certificates from real institutions; and others have passed off their children's degrees as their own (July 2, Guardian, UK).
The latest scandal involves numerous parliamentarians with fake university degrees, a subject so tense the government has tried to silence the media from reporting it (July 12, CNN). The scandal appears to cut across party lines, so there may be support for quickly passing a law absolving the accused. But such a move may further tarnish the image of a political elite the majority of Pakistanis, who live in poverty, view as corrupt and indifferent to their needs (July 11, The Huffington Post).

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