Cost of Questioning

Dr. Q. Isa Daudpota, of COMSTECH was “fired” from his job recently [3,4,5,16]. Dr. Isa has a Ph.D. in Physics from University of Southampton. Ardeshir Cowasjee, a renowned columnist with Dawn, Ms Foqia Sadiq Khan, of Sustainable Development Policy Institute [6] (I have not verified her affiliation), Dr. Anis Alam, a former professor, and Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy a renowned physicist have raised the issue of firing of Dr. Q. Isa Daudpota in their respective articles [3,4,5,16]. These columnists directly or indirectly mentioned that Dr. Isa had pointed in his Spider [1,27] (and Chowk [2]) articles about the affiliation of various Pakistani educational institutions to fake degree awarding institutions in US and UK. Specifically, Dr. Isa had questioned the degree awarded to Capt(r) Mr. Usman Ali G Isani, the current vice chancellor of Quaid-e-Azam University [7] Islamabad, by the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) [8]. These columnists argue that it was the questioning of the award of Ph.D. to Mr. UAG Isani by NUML that cost Dr. Isa Daudpota his job.

Dr. Isa had made the following points in his articles on Spider [27] and Chowk [2]. I have given references where necessary:

1) American University of London (AUL) [26] is a phony university in London. The UK government is questioning the administration of AUL about the use of ‘university’ in its title [2] [9 source not verified].

2) Pakistan Futuristic Foundation Institute’s (PFFI) founder Dr Ikram Azam, author of several books, obtained his Ph.D. from American University of London. [2,9]

3) PFFI was an affiliated institution with American University of London [2,9]. It severed its ties with AUL and moved its Ph.D. students enrolled with AUL to NUML, then known as National Institute of Modern Languages, NIML. (This happened sometime between 1997 and 2001)

4) Dr. Ikram Azam supervised the Ph.D. thesis of Brig(r) Aziz Ahmed Khan, the current vice chancellor of National University of Modern Languages. The dean of the Faculty of Advanced Integrated Studies (FAIS) at NUML has confirmed this [2].

(Although I am unable to verify this but I think that Brig. Aziz Ahmed Khan was a serving brigadier when he was appointed rector of NUML.)

5) Capt(r) Mr. UAG Isani, the current vice chancellor of Quaid-e-Azam University was serving as chairman University Grants Commission (UGC) from 1997 to 2001. It was during his tenure as chairman UGC that National Institute of Modern Languages (NIML) was awarded the charter of university on May 29, 2000 [2]. It was also during this period that he got registered as a student with NIML. On relinquishing his charge as chairman UGC, he moved as vice chancellor of Quaid-e-Azam University.

6) Capt(r) Mr. UAG Isani obtained a Ph.D. degree in Education from NUML in June 2001, one year after NUML was granted charter as a university. His thesis had been submitted to NUML through Pakistan Futuristic Foundation Institute (PFFI). PFFI’s founder, as mentioned in points 1, 2, 3 and 4 had obtained his Ph.D. from the American University of London, a phony university.

7) NUML webpage that lists the details of the programs it is offering states that the course length of Ph.D. program is three to five years [10].

8) Prior to May 29, 2000, NIML was an affiliated institute with Quaid-e-
Azam University Islamabad. It did not have the authority to award Ph.D. degree to any individual on its own. Any individual who started his Ph.D. with NIML prior to it becoming a chartered university must have the outline of his research work approved by the Board of Advanced Studies and Research of Quaid-e-Azam University.

9) Since Mr. UAG Isani obtained his Ph.D. degree in June 2001 within one year of NUML being chartered, and according to NUML website the course length for a Ph.D. program is three to five years [10], he must have started his Ph.D. at the very least in June 1998, the time he was serving as chairman of University Grants Commission. Since NUML was an affiliated institute of Quaid-e-Azam university at that time, and did not have the authority to award Ph.D. degrees, it was required that Mr. UAG Isani should have the outline of his research work approved by the Board of Advanced Studies and Research of Quaid-e-Azam university. Dr. Isa contends that a notable academic with access to academic records at Quaid-e-Azam university confirms that no reference to any NIML thesis exists over there. According to Dr. Isa that academic also contends that NIML may not had the authorization to award any degree above Master’s [2].

Biography of Capt(r) Mr. UAG Isani

• According to the website of Hashoo Foundation [11], whose board of trustees include Mr. Mr. UAG Isani and Pervez Hoodbhoy a notable physicist:
“Mr Isani holds the position of Vice Chancellor, Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad. Recently he has completed his Ph.D. in Education from National University of Modern Languages Islamabad. He held offices of Secretary Education Government of Sindh, Chief Secretary, Planning and Development, Government of N. W. F. P, Secretary Food & Agriculture Government of Pakistan, Secretary, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Railways & Secretary General Establishment Division, Government of Pakistan, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of Pakistan and Chairman University Grants Commission.”

• According to Dr. Ijaz Hussain, who is a professor in the department of International Relations at Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad [12], Mr. UAG Isani holds a MS in education from the University of California at Berkeley and MA (history) and LL.B. from the Punjab University.
• Mr. UAG Isani is on the Boards of various institutions that include educational institutions. These include Hashoo Foundation [11], City University of Sciences and Technology [13], National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences [14], and Iqra University Karachi Gulshan Campus (google’s cache) [15].

Letters to the Editor against Capt(r) Mr UAG Isani

• Mr. Salahuddin Khan in his letter to the editor titled “QAU: What solutions” [18] published in the daily ‘The News’ [17] on November 12, 2003 questions the degree awarded to Capt(r) Mr. UAG Isani. He also contends that Mr. UAG Isani is a close relative of Gen(r) Majeed Malik of PML (Q) [19].
• Mr. I.A.Rehman in his letter to the editor titled “Appointment to civil jobs” [20] published in the daily Dawn [21] on June 12, 2001 laments the appointment of Capt(r) Mr. UAG Isani, an all weather bureaucrat with the right connections, to the post of vice-chancellor of Quaid-e-Azam University.

Having right connections is evident from the following press coverage in which Mr. UAG Isani, in his individual capacity and also leading a delegation of Quaid-e-Azam University students and professors, met with the Prime Minister Jamali [23], Shujaat [24], and President Musharaf [22].

Dr. S. Sohail H. Naqvi, Executive Director of Higher Education Commission (HEC) responded to the article of Ms. Foqia Sadiq Khan. His response was published in the letter to the editor section of the Daily News on Dec. 17, 2004 [25]. He made the following points in his response:
• Dr. Isa Daudpota is a contract employee of COMSTECH who continues to attend the office every day but whose contract has not been renewed at COMSTECH after evaluating his performance over there.
(Dr. Sohail has not mentioned that Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman heads COMSTECH, who perhaps has the authority to renew the contact of its employees)
• Dr. Sohail contends that all work carried out by a student in an institution to which the charter is granted is taken into consideration for the award of degree to that student. He therefore concludes that the duration of six months as mentioned by Ms. Foqia Sadiq Khan in which the degree was granted to Mr. UAG Isani by NUML does not reflect the total duration of the work.
• Dr. Sohail says that the thesis of Mr. UAG Isani is available in the HEC for all to view.
• Dr. Sohail says that the “The Ph.D. degree awarded to Dr. Isani has been awarded by NUML and approved by its Board of Governors headed by the Chief of Army Staff.”

To critically analyze the arguments of Dr. Sohail Naqvi and Dr. Isa Daudpota, both respected personalities in their fields, following points need to be considered:

• Dr. Isa contends that prior to May 29, 2000, NIML was an affiliated institute with Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad. It did not have the authority to award Ph.D. degree to any individual on its own. Any individual who started his Ph.D. with NIML prior to it becoming a chartered university must have the outline of his research work approved by the Board of Advanced Studies and Research of Quaid-e-Azam University. According to Dr. Isa, no such record exists for Mr. UAG Isani. Therefore, the foremost requirement for Ph.D. program was not met.
• Dr. Isa also mentions that the doctoral thesis of Mr. Isani is available in the HEC library, but not in the NUML library. NUML is the institution that conferred upon Mr. UAG Isani the degree of doctor of philosophy in education.
• Dr. Isa says that Mr. UAG Isani submitted his thesis to NUML through PFFI. PFFI’s founder had obtained his Ph.D. degree from American University of London, a phony university.
• The exact date on which Mr. UAG Isani was enrolled as a student in NIML as a doctoral is not known.
• A Ph.D. from abroad is not a 100% guarantee that the respective person can do wonders with his job. However, the concern is whether performance was the *only* reason due to which Dr. Isa’s contract with COMSTECH was not renewed.

Interestingly, the websites of Quaid-e-Azam University and National University of Modern Languages (NUML), the qualifications of whose heads are in question, do not mention at all who is their rector / vice chancellor, let alone their qualifications. At least, I was unable to find it.


References

[1] Q. Isa Daudpota. Fake degrees on sale. Spider Magazine, July 2003 http://www.spider.tm/jul2003/isa.shtml
[2] Q. Isa Daudpota. Fake degrees for the big boys in Pakistan. Chowk, Nov 2004. http://www.chowk.com/show_article.cgi?aid=0000441 5&channel=civic%20center&start=0&end=9&chapt er=1&page=1
[3] Dr. Anis Alam. The rush to produce PhD degrees. Dawn, Education Section, Jan 2005.
http://www.dawn.com/weekly/education/education.htm#1
[4] Ardeshir Cowasjee. Brass hats and mortar boards. Dawn, Cowasjee, Jan 2, 2005.
http://www.dawn.com/weekly/cowas/cowas.htm
[5] Foqia Sadiq Khan. Fake and substandard degrees in an Orwellian state. Foqia Sadiq Khan. Jang, Opinion, Dec 12, 2004.
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/dec2004-daily/16-12-2004/oped /o2.htm
[6] Sustainable Development Policy Institute. http://www.sdpi.org/
[7] Quaid-e-Azam University. http://www.qau.edu.pk/
[8] National University of Modern Languages. http://www.numl.edu.pk/
[9] Email: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paksef/message/744 (Source not verified)
[10] NUML programs. http://www.numl.edu.pk/programs.htm
[11] Hashoo Foundation Team: http://www.hashoofoundation.org/team.htm
[12] The importance of higher education. Daily Times.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_12-5-200 4_pg3_3
[13] City University. http://www.cityuniversity.edu.pk/index.html
[14] National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences. http://www.nu.edu.pk/foundation.asp
[15] Iqra University Gulshan Campus.
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:CEXuxloeGrAJ:w ww.iqragulshan.edu.pk/UNI/Academics_Council.asp+quaid-e-azam +university+isani&hl=en
[16] Reforming Pakistan’s Universities – II. Chowk.com, Pervez Hoodbhoy, Jan 4, 2005
http://www.chowk.com/show_article.cgi?aid=0000456 3&channel=university%20ave&start=0&end=9&cha pter=1&page=1
[17] The daily News. http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/
[18] QAU: What solutions. News post, Mr. Salahuddin Khan, Nov. 12, 2003.
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/nov2003-daily/12-11-2003/oped /newspost.htm
[19] Pakistan Muslim League. http://www.pml.org.pk/
[20] Appointments to civil jobs. Dawn, I.A.Rehman, June 12, 2001. http://www.dawn.com/2001/06/19/letted.htm#3
[21] The daily Dawn. http://www.dawn.com
[22] Ministry of Information Press Release. May 10, 2003 (search for ‘isani’ in this web page)
http://www.pak.gov.pk/public/news/news2003/pid2003/pid_may10 052003.htm
[23] Government Taking Practical Steps for Education: Jamali. Paknews, July 11, 2003.
http://paknews.com/main.php?id=5&date1=2003-07-11
[24] PM urges MPs to resolve people’s problems. Pakistan Observer (google’s cache), July 18, 2004.
http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:i8ZVmL3i7s0J:pakobser ver.net/200407/18/view/%3Fpage%3D1%26id%3D12+quaid-e-azam+un iversity+isani&hl=en
[25] In defence of HEC. News post, Dr. S. Sohail H. Naqvi, Dec 17, 2004.
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/dec2004-daily/17-12-2004/oped /newspost.htm
[26] American University of London. http://www.aul.edu/
[27] Q. Isa Daudpota. PhD for Sale. Heard of a doctorate in six months? The HEC needs to rip out the rotten sections of the higher education sector, particularly fake degrees and institutions. Spider Magazine, November 2004.
http://www.spider.tm/nov2004/main.html?pgsrc=szone&subme nu=szone&dirtarget=none



Glossary of Terms

AUL American University of London
HEC Higher Education Commission
NIML National Institute of Modern Languages
NUML National University of Modern Languages
PFFI Pakistan Futuristic Foundation Institute
UGC University Grants Commission