SIALKOT, Oct 21: Police on Thursday arrested more officials of the education department allegedly involved in the business of preparing and selling fake degrees to the people.

This was said by district Nazim Mian Naeem Javaid while talking to newsmen here.

Sialkot DCO Syed Tahir Raza Naqvi was also present on this occasion.

The Nazim said the Cantonment police had registered separate cases against the accused and sent them behind the bars. He said the names of the arrested had been kept secret.

According to official sources, the police also raided the office of the deputy district education officer (women) and arrested a clerk, Muhammad Aslam Tahir, for having close links with the inter-provincial gang of forged degree makers which was smashed by the district government on Oct 16.

It was learnt that another clerk Muhammad Afzal alias Kala managed his escape during the raid.

Replying to a question, Mian Naeem Javaid said officials of the universities, colleges and educational boards were directly or indirectly involved in this scam, whose names had been put on the exit control list (ECL).

The Nazim said the district government had contacted various educational boards, colleges, private and public universities and sought their cooperation for ending the menace.