Moalims

ISLAMABAD: The COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT) has forwarded the directions to Preston University to investigate the matter of Dr Haroon Rashid’s thesis, allegedly containing 72% plagiarism.

According to the Higher Education Commission’s (HEC’s) letter available with Daily Times, the PhD thesis of Dr Haroon Rashid, who was performing his duty as CIIT Pro-reactor, comprised on 72% plagiarism while the degree was awarded by Preston University’s Islamabad campus.

The HEC’s Quality Assurance Cell (QAC) on August 21 wrote to COMSATS reactor Dr SM Zaidi to make unbiased inquiry into the matter of Dr Rashid. “You are requested to submit the outcomes of investigation with in 90 days,” read the letter.

A senior official of Preston said that the HEC should directly contact Preston about the plagiarism case.

“Instead, HEC avoided directing to Preston directly and asked CIIT to investigate. How can an institute make any verdict against its pro-reactor,” he questioned. These are various tactics being made to hide the grounds, the official said, adding that through these tactics, the facts could not be concealed and finally HEC or CIIT would have to build some certain decelerations regarding the matter.

However, Preston’s Academics Director Javed Khan Awan told the scribe that the university has constituted a committee comprised on senior professors, who would make the decision after long mutual negotiations, as it the subject relates to somebody’s future.

On a question, Awan said, “The university will finalise the issue within the stipulated time by HEC.” He revealed that Preston is answerable to HEC but not to CIIT.

Dr Rashid, who is also the Chief Operating Officer (CEO) of the National Testing Service (NTS), had previously worked with various government organisations. Rashid also had been awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz in the tenure of last PPP’s government.

HEC Executive Director Dr Raza Bhatti confirmed that the body has written a letter to the CIIT, adding that the matter is under investigation. It would be too early to comment about the consequences, he said.

To a question, he said, “There are different categories of penalty of such crimes. However, it would be determinant by the HEC committee which will be devised after the final report surfaces.”

According to Bhatti, the person who is found involved to committing such crime can be penalised under the HEC bylaws. “If found guilty, he may face penalty, dismissal from service or cancellation of any kind of membership with HEC. As for as the case is concerned, the decelerations will be made after reviewing the nature of findings of case,” he clarified.

The education experts have different opinions on the issue. Dr Attaur Rehman, former HEC chairman and federal minister for Science and Technology, said that Rashid’s degree could not be called fake. However, he said, as it was the matter of thesis and Preston should keep a check on the thesis works at the time of degree awarding to any student.

He revealed that due to the absence of law in the country, the ministers and government officials are holding fake academic degrees.

He quoted the example of Sheikh Waqas Akram, who performed as a federal education minister but ironically had a fake graduation degree. To a question, Rehman said Preston should cancel Rashid’s degree if the allegation of plagiarism are proved.

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