"After continuous fake degree cases, we decided to set up a separate degree verification cell for fastest and proper verification of employees' educational documents, submitted at the time of appointment," said a high official of TCP. He said previously, Human Resource Division of the corporation was responsible for degree verification; however, the process was on a slow track, of which several cases were in pending. Therefore, we have decided to establish a separate "degree verification cell" inside the corporation for timely and proper scrutiny of educational documents of the entire staff, he added.
Muhammad Muneer, General Manager Godown has been appointed as head of the Degree Verification Cell, while Asghar Ali Mangreo Deputy Manager, Shayan Ahmed Assistant Manager and Zeeshan have also been deputed at the cell. Sources said the department will be responsible for verification of all education degrees including Higher Secondary School, Intermediate, Graduation and Masters/MBA of the TCP employees including workers and officers. The HR department of the corporation has been directed to hand over all the educational/degree record held with the corporation to the degree verification cell for appropriate action.
Previously, there was no mechanism of degree verification and even several degrees were verified by the employees themselves. Now, it has been decided to send degrees directly to the issuing boards or universities, they added. Sources said that during 2014 TCP had dismissed three employees after their degrees were confirmed fake and accordingly they accepted the offence. Muhammad Anwar Imam (Godown Assistant HR-11 session), Atif Ali Khan (Junior Assistant accounts division) and Muhammad Ibran (Junior Assistant Cash Section) were dismissed from the services of TCP with effect from December 8, 2014 under section 15 (2) (iv) of West Pakistan Industrial and Commercial Employment (Standing Orders) Ordinance 1968 as educational certificates/degrees were fake.
Another employee namely Nabi Bakhsh Junior Assistant (Godown Division) was also dismissed from the job on May 24, 2015 on fake degree. While, degree of Muhammad Azeem Assistant (Port Operation) was also not confirmed by the concern board, however he got stay order from the labour court saying that his degree was not confirmed due to some technical issues. Reportedly, later he submitted a fresh degree, which has been verified by the board.
Sources said that an inquiry against Mir Muhammad Raza Staff Officer (SO) to Chairman is also being conducted as his MBA degree has not been confirmed by the issuing university. At the time of appointment, in 2010, Raza mentioned that he is MBA from Muhammad Ali Jinnah University (MAJU); however, despite several notices for submission of degree, he delayed and finally submitted MBA degree of Al-Khair University Azad Jammu & Kashmir earlier this year. As per process, TCP's HR Division sent his degree for verification; however the degree was declared fake by the concerned university saying "Record Not Found".
The TCP's CBA also lodged a protest before the chairman TCP for extraordinary favour to his staff officer, after which, chairman TCP transferred Raza to HR and later he was posted as Manager Security. Now, he has been transferred to Korangi Godown as Incharge Record Cell.
According to TCP management, it has decided to give all possible favour to Raza for degree verification as he is insisting that his degree is genuine. In the last conversation with TCP management, Raza had informed the he had sent a legal notice to the university for non-confirming his degree, they added. "Disciplinary action would be taken against Raza, if he failed to confirm his MBA degree, they maintained. Further, sources said the TCP has also filed a suit against the fake degree holders seeking recovery of salary and other benefits drawn by them during employment in TCP.