Association of Pakistani Lawyers, a team of Pakistani origin lawyers, Solicitors, Barristers, Judges in UK has highly praised the Supreme Court detailed decision in the petition of PPP candidate Nadia Aziz against a Member of National Assembly Rizwan Gill IN PP.34 Sargodha, declaring usage of fake degrees a criminal action punishable to 3 years imprisonment and fine which the society has no place. APL has welcomed that ruling and has demanded that all those on public positions who have benefited from ‘fake degrees’ must vacate their positions and must offer themselves to the mercy of courts voluntarily, and leave the positions where they would not be in, had they not been the beneficiaries of their fake credentials.
APL has confirmed that It is a criminal offence in Pakistan and the wider world that if someone forges documents, presents and produces fake credentials in order to seek employment and or gainful advantage, let alone public representation, commits a crime and may be tried and sentenced. It is understandable, that If someone can use fake degrees to seek public representation surely he can lie and or involve in criminal practices to gain or equal the expenses incurred to gain that position, or may be blackmailed by those who connived with him to gain his access to those corridors. Half of our public offices are full of this curse or shall I say disease and we are devoid of visionary leadership who would pick up diagnosis at the earliest stages, and attempt to treat it by surgical bold actions.“Alas, Pakistan currently do not have the befit of its Quaid’s the founding father Mr. Jinnah, and his actions and statements have been binned to this effect and leaders have chosen to remain astray from the Prophet of Islam whose conduct is a guidance for the mankind. If the level of understanding corrupt practices remain that low, then leaders must be ready for the public wrath & onslaught, said Mr. Malik.
APL Chair has said that it is a state failure that no reliable mechanism of adjudicating corruption was ensued in the past. Now we must acknowledge that system promotes corruption in each class and cadre, and we must deter that activity by political will coupled with actions, and only then we can come to second question of finding a solution to it where we will find prima facie allegations of corruption, investigation, adjudication and punishment fairly and properly where justice is seen to be done and no politically motivated prosecution takes place. No one is above the law must be the message to move forward in future.
He said APL is of the view that a new Commission must be set up forthwith in line with the Accountability process which had consensus of two major parties in ‘Charter of democracy’ and chair of the commission shall meet the standard of political impartiality, judicial propriety, moderate views expressed through his judgements.
APL Chair has said that no one is immune in the country from any prosecution and none is clean either, so the Parliament may consider a policy of reconciliation for those in the backlog system by admission of guilt, seeking forgiveness from the public and state, and return of looted public money and only then redemption must be considered in line with ‘South African Style Truth and Reconciliation’ and all criminal allegations must be considered within a time frame to root out the chaff from the grain addressing the complaints of the aggrieved of abuse of process.
APL chair said that We must get on with the job turning a new leaf, otherwise we will be running in circles forever and APL hoped that leaders of the day realises the challenges faced by the nation and rather than revenge, revert to progress and public service with a good governance as its hall mark following ‘unity, faith and discipline’ in their individual ranks and national life.
Barrister Amjad Malik
Chair &
Members of the Executive
Association of Pakistani Lawyers (UK)
