The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has dismissed its Director General (DG), Zulfiqar Ahmed, after a thorough investigation revealed that his academic qualifications were fraudulent. This decision follows a detailed inquiry initiated under the directive of NADRA’s Chairman, Lt Gen Mohammad Munir Afsar, and supported by the findings of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
Investigation Timeline
The controversy began in 2018 when Zulfiqar Ahmed submitted equivalency certificates for his MBA and BBA degrees, purportedly obtained from George Mason University, USA, and Westwood College, USA, respectively. These certificates were issued by HEC based on documents provided in sealed envelopes.
However, suspicions about the authenticity of Ahmed’s degrees surfaced in 2023 when NADRA’s newly appointed chairman mandated a comprehensive review of all officials’ academic credentials. Upon further scrutiny, discrepancies in Ahmed’s records led to a full-fledged investigation.
Findings of the Probe
MBA from George Mason University:
- The degree bore the signature of an individual who was not the university’s president at the time.
- George Mason University officially denied having any record of Zulfiqar Ahmed as a student.
BBA from Westwood College:
- Westwood College was known as the Denver Institute of Technology in 1987, the year Ahmed claimed to have graduated.
- The institution was only renamed Westwood College in 1997, a decade later, making the degree implausible.
Additional Fabrications:
- Ahmed’s academic transcript contained discrepancies in GPA calculations and grades, further exposing the fraudulent nature of his credentials.
HEC’s Role and Court Involvement
After being alerted by NADRA in June 2023, HEC launched its own re-verification process. It reached out to the respective institutions, both of which denied any affiliation with Ahmed. HEC subsequently revoked the equivalency certificates issued in 2018.
Ahmed challenged this decision in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), but the court upheld HEC’s findings, reinforcing NADRA’s case. The court’s ruling and Ahmed’s failure to provide a satisfactory explanation to a show-cause notice resulted in his dismissal.
Official Statement
In the dismissal order, NADRA’s chairman cited:
- The IHC’s verdict affirming the investigation’s accuracy.
- The lack of credible evidence from Ahmed to refute the allegations.
The order stated:
“The allegations against Mr. Zulfiqar Ahmed stand established. A major penalty of ‘Dismissal from Service’ has been imposed.”
Implications
The dismissal of Zulfiqar Ahmed underscores NADRA’s commitment to maintaining integrity within its ranks. The incident also highlights the importance of rigorous academic verification processes, especially in key government organizations.
This scandal serves as a stern reminder to all public officials about the consequences of academic fraud, with NADRA setting a precedent for transparency and accountability.