March 18, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 9, 1429

LAHORE, March 17: The Punjab University has dismissed from service former psychology and applied psychology department chairman Dr Mian Aftab Ahmad after finding his MSc degree showing first division based upon a bogus notification.

A three-member inquiry committee led by faculty of sciences dean Prof Dr Chaudhry Jamil Anwar also declared Dr Aftab's MSc degree "bogus, invalid and null and void" as it was issued on the basis of a bogus notification showing 480 marks out of 800. The letter issued on Monday advised Dr Aftab to present himself before the vice-chancellor within seven days and clarify his position and show cause under Section 7(2) from the date of issuance of the letter i.e. March 17, if he desired so.

On the basis of the inquiry committee report and recommendation, the VC while using his emergency powers under Section 15(3) of the University of the Punjab Act 1973 and under clause 4(b)(vi) of the University of the Punjab Employees (Efficiency and Discipline) Statutes 1975, imposed major penalty of "dismissal from service" after having found him (Dr Aftab) the sole beneficiary of the forgery in order to obtain fictitious first division/degree to qualify for the Punjab University faculty position.

Dr Aftab was earlier removed from the psychology department chairmanship and placed under suspension on research articles' plagiarism charges in January this year.

Prof Dr Yasmin N Farooqi, who had replaced Dr Aftab as chairperson of the department, had originally lodged a complaint in writing against plagiarism committed by Dr Aftab and claimed that the accused had got second division in his MSc applied psychology examination and was ineligible for appointment even as assistant professor.

Though the formal inquiry to ascertain plagiarism charges leveled against Dr Aftab is in process, the regular inquiry committee comprising Prof Dr Chaudhry Jamil Anwar (chairman), Institute of Education and Research director Prof Dr Hafiz Muhammad Iqbal and botany department chairman Prof Dr Khan Rass Masood, proceeded against Dr Aftab on the basis of documentary record and prima facie evidence provided by inquiry officer, Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology director Prof Dr Muhammad Amin Athar, after a preliminary probe.

The regular inquiry committee after going through all the relevant record and after giving the accused an opportunity of personal hearing, concluded that the marks in Paper-II, III and VIII of MSc applied psychology examinations had been tampered with in the result sheet containing the result of the accused. The committee said a bogus notification was issued showing that the accused had got first division by securing 480 marks.

Referring to Dr Aftab's plea that the case of forgery/tampering of result and issuance of degree could not be reopened after 30 years, the committee noted that the plea was not maintainable because this was not a matter of disqualification simply because of unfair means, mistake in compilation of result or an issue of eligibility. Rather, the committee said, "the degree was issued on the basis of bogus, fictitious and invalid notification, which could be withdrawn or cancelled whenever it came to the notice of the issuing authority. Hence, the degree issued on the basis of bogus notification should automatically stand cancelled".

When contacted, Dr Aftab said the inquiry committee did not provide him the relevant record to facilitate him in replying to the show cause notice.

He said the inquiry committee was constituted without proper jurisdiction and authority, which also failed to reply to his objections against the constitution of the committee as well as provision of the record. He also alleged that he was not even provided the initial probe committee report.

Dr Aftab also maintained that his MSc degree and notification were issued after due process and alleged that the charge of tampering with the examination department record was leveled by none other than the incumbent vice-chancellor.