By Imtiaz Hussain
SUKKUR: Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU), Khairpur’s 92nd Syndicate meeting has led to a major crackdown on alleged fake degree issuance, with 11 officials proposed for suspension and a ban on their entry to the university premises.
Reports said the meeting of the Syndicate of Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur extensively discussed agenda items No. 04 and 05, seeking a report from a fact-finding team headed by Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Abdul Wahid Jatoi, along with Dr Ameer Ahmed, Dr Muzaffar Sarohi, Dr Menho Khan Leghari and others.
The fact-finding committee, in its compiled report, informed the meeting that several officials, including the controller of examinations Lala Saif, Rahil Mahar, Rahib Phulpoto, Gulzar Khemitio, Hubdar Phulpoto, Iqbal Abbasi, Ijaz Soomro, former controller of examinations Syed Mahadi Shah Rashadi, tabulator Farhan Soomro, Ghulam Mustafa alias Premi Larik, Mahfooz Shah Rashadi and Sharafat Ali Phulpoto were allegedly involved in a fake degree issuance scandal.
The committee also proposed action against a book binder and two other employees. Syndicate members, including former federal secretary Naheed Shah, MPA Barrister Halar Wassan, Secretary Universities & Boards Department Muhammad Abbas Baloch, representative of the Sindh Higher Education Commission and Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Samreen Hussain, and nominee of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan Dr Muneer Ahmed Mirjat, after detailed discussion, proposed the immediate suspension of the officials concerned.
They further recommended the formation of a probe committee comprising Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Abdul Wahid Jatoi, Dr Ameer Ahmed, Dr Muzaffar Sarohi, Dr Menho Khan Leghari, Prof Dr Akhtiar Ghumro and Dean Faculty of Law Rahim Bux Bhatti to proceed against the suspended officials after issuing notices under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020.
While confirming the decisions taken in the meeting, members said that the official version could be obtained from the registrar of SALU Khairpur. However, when contacted, Registrar Hassan Hallepoto reportedly declined to issue an official statement regarding the Syndicate’s decision.
It is worth mentioning that in January 2026, the registrar of SALU Khairpur had lodged an FIR (No. 65/2026) under sections 420, 486, 471 and 500 of the Pakistan Penal Code against 130 individuals accused of obtaining fake degrees. The accused belong to Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan and are alleged to have obtained fraudulent degrees including LLB, LLM, BA, BSc, BCom and other postgraduate qualifications issued between 1994 and 2024.
The FIR does not name any SALU employees, stating that all accused are private individuals who obtained the degrees. The vice chancellor, on the direction of the Higher Education Commission, has also appointed Professors Dr Farman Ali Mangi and Dr Muzaffar Sarohi to head a probe committee. An internal committee has been formed to identify university staff who may have facilitated the issuance of fake degrees.
The FIR suggests the scandal may have wider implications, potentially affecting provincial and national assembly seats as well as officials holding BPS-19 and BPS-20 positions who may have obtained fraudulent degrees. The Federal Investigation Agency and other authorities are also investigating the matter.
