The Higher Education Commission handed over to the Election Commission, on Thursday last week what was the first official list of national and provincial assemblies' members whose degrees have been found to be either fake or invalid. The list contains 47 names, thirty for using fake and 17 invalid degrees. The latter category has been defined as degrees either issued by non-chartered institutions or cancelled by awarding institutions.
Interestingly, one of the persons affected, a female member of the Balochistan Assembly, immediately contested the inclusion of her name in the list on the grounds that although she had submitted a degree from a non-accredited foreign university, she also had a bachelor's from the Balochistan University. The final verdict in this case could have implications for Law Minister Dr Babar Awan, who is said to have earned his doctorate from a non-accredited fly-by-night foreign university.
Out of the 47 holders of fake or dubious degrees, 12 belong to the PPP, and 11 each to the PML-N and PML-Q. This, so far as the sense of morality is concerned, places them on almost an even footing. It is quite unsettling, though, to see not just one or two people using fake degrees, but so many of them. Another noteworthy detail concerns the name of the universities which have disowned the degrees issued in their name. Both the Punjab and Sindh Universities have declared eight degrees, each, as fake, Peshawar University three, and Bahauddin Zakariya University in southern Punjab another two. Karachi University finds no mention in this list. And only one PPP member of the Sindh Assembly, Mir Nadir Magsi has been caught with an invalid degree.
The Election Commission secretary told journalists on Thursday that the Commission had also received a list of over 200, out of the 1,170 members of the federal and provincial legislators, whose degrees are in order. At this rate, the final tally might rise to a dangerous level. Its fallout portends an uncertain political future. If 47 out of 200 legislators used fake degrees, that means when the last count is in, over 23 percent seats could fall vacant.
By-elections in such an eventuality may not do; the pressure for mid-term election will mount. Governments, of course, have to remain prepared to deal with such situations. Even if the present government thinks things will not come to such a pass, it should implement the provision of the 18th Amendment that calls for the reconstitution of the Election Commission to ensure its independence.
It must not waste further time in setting up a parliamentary committee, comprising of an equal number of members nominated by the government and the Opposition, to appoint the Chief Election Commissioner. Doing so would not only fulfil a vital constitutional requirement, but also help create a level playing field for all participants in the future elections.