Whenever the word Hawaii is mentioned, normal folks think about white sand beaches, cool drinks, surfing and snorkeling. If you are a politically-minded person you may think about Hawaii as the birthplace of the current US president, but no one would think of Hawaii as the academic destination of choice.
Honestly, if I had to spend any time in Hawaii, I would rather soak up the sun on the beach than spend it inside a stuffy library. I know that there are people who go to college in Hawaii but they must have super human discipline to concentrate on academia when waves and wind beckon them to step outdoors.
Our esteemed minister for law and parliamentary affairs, Babar Awan is these days embroiled in a fake degree scandal. Apparently his doctorate degree, obtained from a certain University of Monticello in Hawaii is fake because the said university has been declared a non-recognised and non-chartered institute by the courts in the State of Hawaii. Babar sahib, for starters, you chose to order your (fake) degree from a university named Monticello which either sounds like the name of a casino or a spaghetti sauce from southern Italy, but not the name of a centre of academic excellence. At best, it can be name of a minor character in Mario Puzo’s Godfather trilogy.
Secondly, sir, you already had perfectly respectable degrees from Punjab University for both, bachelors and masters, why did you have to order a fancy doctorate degree from the University of Monticello? Honestly, if I were the investigation officer, I wouldn’t have investigated too much had your fake degree been from average, regular-sounding universities like the University of Montana or a Florida State University, but with a name like Monticello – people were bound to get suspicious. And that is what that has brought you down sir, the name of your chosen university. Next time, pick a better name.
‘Dr’ Babar Awan is not the only one with fake university with a fancy name. International University of America in London is very popular among the parliamentarians from Baluchistan. MPA Shama Parveen Magsi and the infamous minister for postal services Mir Israr Ullah Khan Zehri (his claim to fame is his defence of burying women alive as part Baloch tradition) have so-called accredited degrees from this university. If either of them had bothered to think this through, they would have noticed that there is no room for an ‘International University of America’ in a city like London that boasts a number of top tier universities and colleges. Perhaps minister sahib was too busy defending supposed Baloch traditions – he could not possibly find the time to pursue academic excellence or to even look for a fake degree from a believable university
Mir Humayun Aziz Kurd, the federal minister for livestock chose Eire International University for his fake BBA Marketing degree. Eire is the Gaelic name of Ireland, which except for a tiny minority in Ireland, no one really uses it, but I digress. There is an unaccredited university named Irish International University but perhaps Kurd thought it would be fancier if he used the Gaelic name of the university instead of the regular English. In any case, the university is a sham and according to Wikipedia, its own honorary chancellor calls it “dodgy.”
MNA Mazhar Hayat is also a proud holder of a degree from Winona State University, USA. Unlike Monticello, this is actually a proper university – albeit with a filmi name – but the university has confirmed that Hayat’s degree is a fake. Hayat must have been a fan of Winona Ryder from those ‘Heathers’ and ‘Reality Bites’ days and when one of his henchmen asked him about his degree of choice, he asked them to get him some ‘Winona.’
Tazeen Javed has lived most of her life in Karachi; so far no one has asked her to leave. She has worked as a journalist, teacher, salesperson, activist, tour guide, election observer, fruit vendor, copy writer and television producer in the past. She has wizened up since then and now only works for a living. She blogs at A Reluctant Mind, tweets at http://twitter.com/tazeen and can be contacted at tazeen@alumni.manchester.ac.uk
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
candid and truly amusing!!im surprised how these politicians come up with such ludicrous ideas.I must make it a point to appreciate the efforts of our media in uncovering the unseen!nobody in our police or law agencies would have ever dared to take such a step!!hats off to the media!
Tazeen! excellent work but I think you forgot the leader that is “The President” what about his degree? Which College and university he attended? no proof and what i tried to trace found that he is educated only till 10th grade and nothing more.
Shame on such politicians.
Its a shame that, not only the leadership is corrupt, illiterate and brutal, but they had to go as far as laying fake claims on educational excellence.
But what can you do when the world’s most corrupt person is the president of the country. What do you expect from his cabinet – Angels? Its also a shame that the MPA, MNAs, Senators and their advisers (provincial and federal secretaries) possess education that has nothing to do with the field they are in charge of. Shouldn’t it be nice if a person leading the ministry of livestock has a degree in agriculture, Vet. med. or public health with established academic or professional track record in the field?
Its a shame, how can we expect illiterate (ungotha chaap) leadership to wipe out illiteracy and poverty and fight for other bole things like, human rights, self-esteem and respect, health care, elimination of bribery etc etc.
Very nice said. all the said persons should be banned from contesting elections next time or hold any public office.
well done.
How amazing ?? There are actually people living in this country who can speak in favour of the fake degree holders. These LAWMAKERS are our role models. ?? As long as these lawmakers rule Pakistan there is no hope. The young generation is well advised to leave this country and never return.
No body talked about our president’s degree…
Solving the issue of fake degrees will not solve any problem. Other issues like this will keep on erupting, until and unless equality of law is implemented in true spirit and words. As long as people with power or money remains above the law then these things continue.
All the Parliamentarians with fake degrees should be punished.
We are all very vocal about fake degrees nowadays. There is nothing wrong about it. But I am a little concerned about it’s timing. We should also suggest that degrees of journalists, lawers, and judges should also be put under scrutiny. Saleh Zafir’s degree should be on the top of the list
Wonderfull article.
But, it is our fault too, that we are allowing these extremely corrupt and illiterate people to be the rulers.
We should be very careful to elect the people in future.
So finally, how many doctors with doctored degrees?
if i do not want watch any thing i will not,somebody watching any thing i have not at all no problem,regards
Nice one!!!!
If cheating on any submission to the government is a crime. These politicians should be prosecuted and sentenced accordingly.
As far as wordy assaults are concerned, those are only fit coming from persons who have never cheated or plagiarized on an exam or school assignment, and have never circumvented or broken a rule, regulation or law: theft of electricity, water and other utilities and services, misusing office resources and time for personal use and gain, considering found articles as god’s gift to them.
In a democracy, the elected persons are a mere reflection of the electorate.
Monticello is Thomas Jefferson house’s name
good job Tazeen
I would say that this is ascribed the country is not getting progress due to these illiterate and swindlers.
Now this is the time to get rid of from these people.
You are right my dear. These guys should be given right punishment that it could be a lesson for others that no one can play with us in the name of moderate and sophisticated rulers.
These people are here due to our mistake because we don’t use our vote and these thesaurus get benefit of this, so this is our responsibility to use our vote in right manner.
I agree with it. But is it not a harsh punishment to Babar Awan who made a mistake in picking up the wrong university name to ridicule him.
Delicious!
Really?
Monticello is as good a name as Harvard, or stanford… you need to know that Monticello is in fact the place where jefferson lived. Jefferson once said “i cannot live without books” so by that connection i would say that Monticello can be a very good name for an education institute.
and yes, i agree the poor law minister was too keen to have the doctorate degree. poor soul! i pity him, he wanted to be called doctor. why don’t you ppl grant him that wish!!!!
Mr. Law minister, i assure you that i will continue to call you a doctor even if the rest of the world denies you that wish. (please don’t miss the irony)
Sarcasm. Not irony,
Its an absolute disgrace that we have been duped by fake degree holders. Probity checks should be conducted on overseas qualification claimants before they are offered any position. Lets start from captain Zardari!
You, me and everyone knows how much easy to have fake degree? Do not you know the actual price of BCOM or MBA degree in Pakistan without attending the single class?
Very good article. However, I take exception with the word Monticello. I don’t know the origin of the word, however, this is a very ‘American’ term. Thomas Jefferson’s estate is called ‘Monticello’ and it is in beautiful state of Virginia.
It was fun to read this article. Well done Tazeen.
@ mother of 3
nobody resigns in this country,he’s forced out.Whether its a politician with a fake degree,a cricket captain who under performs,a corrupt beaureaucrat, nobody resigns.
Ironically, the last notable person to resign was none other than a so-called ‘dictator’. Democracy Zindabad!
Except Afridi.Afreen Afridi.You set a great example.
Good article. Degrees are important but not necessary for a politician to operate honestly. Basic education is enough to serve the constituency. If one has to get a degree off course he/she should be smart enough to inquire about the university using various communication means; I mean it is not exactly 1980s prior to internet revolution, even at that time, recognized university were listed in the various printed publications.
You mentioned some movies of Ms. Ryder but why did you leave out the movie “Girl Interrupted”.
Monticello is actually the name given to Thomas Jefferson’s estate. Thomas Jefferson being one of the founding fathers of the U.S. and an esteemed educator (see, University of Virginia) so in the U.S. Monticello is actually a very appropriate name for an educational institution, and not at all for a casino or pasta sauce. And, as you say, the University in Hawaii actually tried to exist so it is not as absurd as you try to make it sound. The whole business of buying degrees on the other hand certainly is.
The above comment is very appropriate. The writer should have researched a bit more before knitpicking.
Mr. Khurshid,
Knitpicking? Really!
Or you & NJ are missing the point?
this is exactly what i wanted to say. enjoyed your comment.
knitpicking exactly!
The scandal of our parliamentarians with fake degrees is a national shame. In no democratic country such fraud could be allowed, they would have resigned immediately. Why not in Pakistan? These dishonorable members of the parliament must resign forthwith, and a judicial committee set up to investigate this fraud. How could the political parties nominate such crooks and why did the election commission fail to screen their credentials? These people have greatly harmed democracy in Pakistan.
We, the people demand honesty, accountability and good governance from our political parties and the government.
its really good to see media exposing the politicians. however, I disagree with the writer that a certain place can be or cannot be a good place for learning.
so why aren’t these shameful ‘leaders’ resigning their posts?
why should they? they r proud of it. one must listen to Nisar Khuhro’s (speaker sindh assembly) comments just a gist of it;”was Pakistan made by graduates?… ” well if he should have studied up to matric, he could have come across some names of Sir Agha Khan, Nawab Viqar-ul-mulk, Nawab Salemullah, Syed Amir Ali… ones who made the Muslim league… well all of them were educated i guess and maybe foolish in Mr. khuhro’s terms… what about Mr. Jinnah, the great Iqbal, were they all illiterate??? its high time for our politicians to admit their faults rather than providing ‘lame’ excuses. very unlikely though.they r going one step further Mr Baber Awan has announced that if all the political parties are on board, we might as well remove this clause from the constitution! great ‘Dr’ Baber Awan.
May like to rewrite last line.
…. Dr. Baber Awan, yes one with the doctored degree!