PESHAWAR: The University of Peshawar has finally issued notification to declare the Bachelor of Environmental Sciences (BES) rest results of its student-turned-politician, Murad Saeed, who was caught in the degree-controversy in March 2015.

Former PTI MNA from Swat Murad Saeed was accused of sitting a makeup test in March 2015 for the three papers he missed in the 2009 BES semester examination at the UoP department of environmental sciences in violation of rules and procedures.

An inquiry committee set up by then VC Prof Rasul Jan had found the process of holding a makeup test on March 2 for Murad Saeed ‘faulty and held in haste’ and had also taken action against the relevant staff members.

Inquiry clears PTI leader of March 2015 makeup test controversy

Finally, the notification of the Murad Saeed’s BES degree was issued on June 13, 2018, by the UoP controller of examination.

A look at the notification showed Mr Murad Saeed with registration number 2005-U-4540 completed 130 credit hours and got 2.2 CGPA.

While the UoP held a makeup test for the two papers on the same day, hue and cry about this violation of BS four-year Programme rules allegedly favoring the young MNA stirred up protest on campus forcing the result of the test to be withheld and an inquiry was initiated.

A University of Peshawar committee in March 2015 probing the alleged malpractices in the holding of BES semester makeup examination for Murad Saeed declared the whole process controversial and dubious and found the lawmaker’s detailed marks certificate to be incorrect and fake.

Upon the recommendations of the committee, the registrar, University of Peshawar, informed the Controller of Examination, University of Peshawar, vide letter dated 13.03.2015, that the competent authority had approved recommendations of inquiry committee constituted vide order dated 04.03.2015; and requested the latter to ‘declare the makeup examination held for Mr. Murad Saeed son of Mr. Saeed Ullah, BS (Session 2005-2009) student of the department of environmental sciences held on 02.03.2015 as null and void with immediate effect’.

However, the PTI MNA took the matter to the Peshawar High Court pleading that he was busy in politics after 2009 and when he went to take his degree from the UoP in 20015, he learned that the university had misplaced his papers and therefore, he sit the hurriedly held makeup test for those papers again.

Political pressure of the sitting PTI government on the UoP exerted via a government’s inquiry committee almost buried the matter while PTI was in power in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and it was just before the Eid-ul Fitr holidays, the UoP issued notification on 13 June , 2108 to declare result in the light of PHC directives issued on February 28, 2018 which sent the case back to the Vice Chancellor, University of Peshawar, for reconsideration in the light of aforesaid observations, ‘fact finding inquiry committee’ report and proof/documents available with the parties, after affording opportunity of hearing to the petitioner and passing a speaking order, with reasons, and also placing the case before the Syndicate if essentially required under the relevant law/rules of the University.

“In pursuance to the decision of the Honourable Peshawar High Court vide 28-02-2018, the worth Vice Chancellor after perusal of available record, court observations and taking into consideration the inquiry report, has been pleased to supersede letter No.2012-13/A-III Est: dated 13-03-2015 and direct to declare result of BES, Batch-IV, Session 2005-2009) in respect of Mr. Murad Saeed…,” said a letter issued by the University registrar on 12 June, 2018.

After the PHC referred the case to the UoP, it constituted a three- committee which gave clearance.

When contacted, the UoP spokesperson referred this correspondent to legal officer of the university Ishtiaq Khattak to know the details of the committee’s findings that finally absolved former MNA from the four year-long degree controversy, but the latter wasn’t available.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2018