Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Monday advised Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr Javed Leghari to carry on the task of the parliamentarians' degrees verification following rules and regulations without any fear or favour. The HEC chairman called on the Prime Minister at the PM Secretariat and informed him about the progress with regard to verification of the Parliamentarians' degrees.
He also informed the Prime Minister about the pressure he and his family are being faced by the powerful politicians and he particularly mentioned the arrest and maltreatment of his younger brother in an alleged corruption case, who was later bailed out by an anti-corruption court. The Chairman also complained about creating hurdles in verification process in some universities, particularly in Sindh, sources maintained. However, the Prime Minister assured his full support to the HEC head while discharging his duties and responsibilities.
The HEC was assigned the tasked by the Chairman Standing Committee on Education to verify all the degrees of parliamentarians who have received from different universities, madaris and foreign educational institutions and submitted in the Election Commission, which was made mandatory by the former President Pervez Musharraf for contesting elections.
According to the reports, HEC had initially received 736 degrees of which 37 were formally declared fake whereas 183 were declared genuine and remaining 516 degrees have yet not been received from the concerned universities. Meanwhile a statement issued from the Prime Minister Secretariat stated that Dr Javed Leghari also briefed the premier about the on-going projects of the HEC and its financial condition.
The Prime Minister also directed him to hold meetings with the concerned ministries to ensure timely completion of the current projects. The HEC sources said the Prime Minister assured Dr Javed Leghari of his co-operation and urged him not to capitulate to any pressure with regard to degrees verification issue. He also apprised him of the future plans of the Commission including the budgetary position.