PM asks HEC chairman to follow rules, not pressure

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

* Gilani assures full govt support for degrees’ verification process

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday directed the Higher Education Commission Chairman Dr Javed Leghari to continue the lawmakers’ degree verification process by following rules and regulations.

Dr Leghari met Gilani at the PM Secretariat and informed him about the status of the verification process, as well as other projects undertaken by the commission.

According to HEC sources, Dr Leghari also informed the PM about “some elements”, who, he said, were trying to pressurise him. “He (Dr Leghari) told the PM in detail about how his family and brother had been targeted by these elements in recent weeks,” the sources said.

The sources said the PM “expressed his sympathy” with the HEC chairman and “assured him that the government will fully support him”.

The officials said the HEC chairman “was quite satisfied” with the meeting and its outcome.

Dr Leghari had written to PM Gilani last week to request a meeting after his brother was arrested.

The HEC officials said universities that were yet to complete the degree verification process had became more “responsive” after the meeting.

The PU on Monday sent the verification results of 63 out of the 133 remaining degrees to the HEC. According to the results, degrees of four members of the Punjab Assembly (MPAs) and a senator were found to be bogus.

According to HEC sources, the commission is also “disturbed” over the non-cooperation of universities in Sindh, as some of these institutes are demanding at least two more months to complete the process.