By Naveed Siddiqui
ISLAMABAD: In a damning revelation, the Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) finds itself embroiled in a scandal as fake educational certificates of its employees have been brought to light. The discovery emerged through a letter dated 15-03-2023, addressed to Mr. Muhammad Junaid Khan, Dy Manager(P) at PMDC, from the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Rawalpindi.
This investigation was prompted by PMDC’s letter No. PMDC/EST-178 dated 13-02-2023, seeking the verification of educational certificates. Shockingly, the verification process has uncovered unsettling findings, indicating a breach of integrity within PMDC’s workforce.
Out of the 13 educational certificates submitted for verification, a staggering 10 have been confirmed as legitimate. However, the remaining 4 certificates belonging to individuals Afzal Jamal, Ghulam Mujtaba, Khalid Hussain and Muhammad Naeem have been marked as “Bogus.” The revelation suggests that these individuals did not participate in any examination conducted by the Rawalpindi Board in the specified years.
The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Rawalpindi, has unequivocally labeled these certificates as fake, raising serious questions about the veracity of educational qualifications within PMDC. This revelation not only casts doubt on the hiring procedures but also points towards potential misconduct.
PMDC is now confronted with a credibility crisis, necessitating swift and thorough actions. The management is urged to conduct a comprehensive inquiry, ensuring accountability and transparency within the institution. This scandal threatens the reputation of PMDC and underscores the importance of stringent verification processes to maintain the integrity of the workforce. Sources said that show-cause notice were issued to the bogus certificate holders. Sources told that the employees have been doing job since many years using the umbrella of labour union.
In one of the show-cause notice, Mr. Khalid Hussain, an Office Assistant at the PMDC Head Office in Islamabad, is entangled in a disciplinary matter, as outlined in a Charge Sheet dated 21.03.2023. The charges center around alleged misconduct, specifically relating to the misrepresentation of educational qualifications.
The Inquiry Officer, Mr. Muhammad Ateeq, Dy. Manager (Taxation), was appointed to investigate the allegations. The inquiry process began promptly, and Mr. Ateeq requested the necessary records and rules to conduct a fair investigation. However, there were delays in obtaining the complete record and relevant rules, eventually leading to the initiation of regular inquiry proceedings.
During the inquiry, Mr. Khalid Hussain submitted a reply, asserting that due to the 2005 earthquake in Azad Kashmir, he lost his matriculation certificate, and Mirpur Board labeled it as “fake.” The accused mentioned submitting an application along with an education certificate to the Managing Director, PMDC, as a response to this situation.
Noteworthy objections were raised by Mr. Khalid Hussain during the proceedings. He contended that the responsibility for verifying all documents, including educational certificates, lay with the Department at the time of his appointment. The accused argued that the negligence of the Department led to the delayed verification process, causing mental distress. Additionally, he emphasized his unblemished service record, providing appreciation letters in support.
A crucial objection raised by Mr. Khalid Hussain was the assertion that matriculation was not a minimum requirement for the post of LDC at the time of his appointment. He argued that promotions were granted based on seniority, experience, and dedicated service.
To address these objections, the Inquiry Officer delved into the recruitment policy and requisite experience and academic qualifications for the post of LDC. The findings revealed that matriculation was not a mandatory requirement before 12.01.1992, and Mr. Khalid Hussain was appointed in 2004 as per the prevailing practice.
Upon reviewing the evidence and objections, the Inquiry Officer proposed a punishment of “REDUCTION TO A LOWER POST” for Mr. Khalid Hussain, citing a violation of Order-15 (2) (iii) of The Industrial and Commercial Employment (Standing Order) Ordinance 1968.
The accused retains the right to appeal this decision according to PMDC Rules. Managing Director PMDC, Me.Asad Ahmed when contacted said that strict action will be taken the bogus certificates holders after fulfilment of all legal formalities.
