KARACHI: The Sindh government on Tuesday denied a widely circulated employment document issued by the UAE authorities to Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah six years ago as a ‘forgery’ saying all details presented in the paper were made up by unscrupulous elements.

A spokesperson for Chief Minister House said the employment document was ‘fake’.

“A fake employment document (bearing No. 2087120/201/2011, dated: Ajman: 31-12-2011), in respect of Mr Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister Sindh, allegedly issued by the Ministry of Interior, Government of UAE, is being circulated/reported by the electronic, print and social media,” said the spokesperson.

“In this connection,” he added, “it is clarified that the said document is forged and fabricated as is evident from the facts.”

He elaborated the ‘facts’ as: “The name shown in the document is ‘Syed Murad Ali Shah’, whereas the name used by the chief minister in all official documents including the Computerised National Identity Card, passport, educational certificates/degrees is ‘Murad Ali Shah’.”

The spokesperson said Mr Shah’s date of birth shown in the document was Nov 8, 1963, while his correct date of birth was Aug 11, 1962.

Besides, the passport number mentioned in the document was one that Mr Shah had never been issued. The spokesperson also mentioned the number of the passport which was actually being used by the chief minister during 2011.

Besides, said the government, “The document is dated Dec 31, 2011 ... [with] Saturday [being a] public holiday in UAE ... all government offices are supposed to be closed on holidays.”

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2017