ISLAMABAD: Chief Minister (CM) of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Khalid Khursheed, allegedly attached a fake degree from the University of London to his nomination papers which can lead to his disqualification and that he can face criminal proceedings, local media reported on Saturday.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has requested the University of London to verify Khursheed’s degree, which the institution declared fake, local media reported. Sources said that the CM wouldn’t only be disqualified from his post, but authorities would initiate criminal proceedings against him.
The sources said the degree submitted by the CM had glaring differences like paper quality, embossed stamp, font, and signature when his verification letter compared to those issued by the same department of the University of London in the same time frame for other university students.
The sources said the HEC is drafting a letter for the cancellation of Khursheed’s degree. Immediate disqualification and criminal investigation would be initiated against him for cheating the HEC.
In response to the HEC letter, the University of London wrote: “I can confirm the envelop and its content (copy of degree transcript, letter of certification and certificate) weren’t issued by the University of London.”
In response to questions sent by the local media outlet, a CM’s legal team member claimed Khalid’s political opponents are propagating against his academic credentials to malign the PTI government.
He said, “CM possesses an LLB from the London University, and the same is duly verified, and equivalence to that end has been issued by the HEC.
“The groundless propaganda has been contested in Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court by the CM, and the Gilgit Baltistan Bar Council has also endorsed his academic records through their statement in the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court.”
He added: “Very significant and alarming is that the Bar Council, in its statement, said the opposition leader tried to force them and made offers to change the record of the bar council.
“It is on the record that respondents i.e. political opponents, often tried to evade the court proceedings. CM Gilgit-Baltistan intends to file a defamation suit against the perpetrators of this propaganda.” He said, “There is no requirement to attach degrees with nomination papers.”
