MANSEHRA, Sept 24: The district education department of Torghar has terminated the services of 14 female teachers and a junior clerk for possessing bogus educational certificates and degrees.

Sources said that education department started scrutiny of the documents of its employees after receiving complaints that some of them got jobs on the basis of fake degrees.

The documents of 14 teachers and a clerk were found fake during the scrutiny, they added.

Source said that district education officer ordered recovery of salaries and other perks from the terminated employees.

“The termination and recovery notices were issued to 14 female teachers and a junior clerk after the boards and universities concerned termed their certificates and degrees fake,” said an official, when contacted.

He said that a drive was also launched against those teachers, who remained absent and received salaries without performing duty.

Meanwhile, Minister of State Sardar Shahjahan Yousaf has urged ulema to impart modern as well as religious education to students at seminaries to prepare them to counter the anti-Islam propaganda being made by certain forces.

“We should get religious as well as modern education to counter the propaganda and conspiracies being hatched against Muslims.

It is the era of science and technology and we can only compete with the world by imparting modern education to our students,” he told a certificate distribution ceremony at a seminary in Kathsarash area of Balakot on Monday.

The head of Madressah Abdullah Bin Masood, Maulana Mohammad Yousaf, also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the achievements of the students.

The minister said that Muslims should work hard to regain their past glory.

“Our past is full of glory as Muslim ruled the world with the help of knowledge and achievements in the field of science and technology,” he added.

The minister said that Muslim Ummah should get united to counter the attacks of anti-Islam extremists.

“The government has written a letter to OIC to counter the propaganda being spread by extremists of Europe and America and adopt a joint strategy,” said Mr Yousaf.

He said that President Asif Ali Zardari would take up the issue of anti-Islam film at general assembly of United Nations and demand legislation for enforcement of blasphemy law.

The minister also gave away certificates to the fresh graduates of the seminary.