ISLAMABAD: Special Judge Central Humayun Dilawar on Monday dismissed the pre-arrest bail applications of 19 out of 22 employees of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in a case pertaining to alleged submission of bogus educational certificates.

The accused were taken into custody outside the courtroom after the rejection of their pleas.

The case, registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), was heard a day earlier by the special court.

During the proceedings, defence counsel argued that the CDA had conducted an internal inquiry in 2017, but the prosecution was unwilling to even examine the report. He contended that the accused included grade-four employees such as security guards, deputy messengers, drivers and lift operators, many of whom were nearing retirement.

The counsel submitted that there was no formal mechanism for verification of school-leaving certificates and that non-verification by a concerned institution did not automatically render a certificate fake.

He further argued that pre-matric certificates were not subject to verification anywhere and that for posts like security guard, a middle school certificate, not a degree, was required.

It was also contended that if the FIA required official records, the same could be obtained from the CDA as the employees themselves were not custodians of the relevant documents. The defence maintained that bail pleas of “low-paid and pitiful employees” were being rejected merely on the basis of non-verification, adding that in some cases certificates had been verified and submitted, yet FIRs were still registered.

The counsel further pointed out that 24 patwaris recruited against the provincial quota had not faced any inquiry, alleging discriminatory treatment against lower-grade staff. He argued that since the department had already imposed administrative penalties, the court should grant pre-arrest bail.

Opposing the pleas, the FIA prosecutor maintained that custodial interrogation of all accused was essential for a thorough investigation.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court rejected the interim pre-arrest bail applications of 19 accused, while confirming pre-arrest bail for four employees.

According to the prosecution, the accused CDA employees had allegedly submitted fake educational documents at the time of their appointments, prompting the FIA to register the case.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2026