KARACHI: Vice Chancellor of Haripur University Dr Anwarul Hassan Gilani reportedly received the Pakistan’s Civil Award Hilal-e-Imtiaz through forgery and concealing information, it has been learnt.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) started an inquiry on a citizen’s complaint for allegedly taking the civil award through forgery but suppressed the file later then taking action. The university’s teachers and the petitioner have demanded action from Director General FIA and the Interior Minister against officers who suppressed the enquiry.
According to the documents available, the Government of Pakistan has twice awarded civil awards – Nishan-e-Imtiaz and Hilal-e-Imtiaz – to Dr Anwarul Hassan Gilani, VC Haripur University. On 14 August, 2020, 184 personalities were awarded the civil award inclusion Prof Dr Anwarul Hassan Gilani (Sindh) for his services to science. On 23 March, 2021, two eminent personalities were awarded Hilal-e-Imtiaz including Prof Dr Anwarul Hassan Gilani and Dr Asif Mehmood Jah.
Anwar-ul-Hassan Gilani also reguarly highlights Hilal-e-Imtiaz in his official letter pad, CV and every news item released from the university. The written complaint by former university lecturer Haji Mehmood Rashid reveals that Dr Gilani had received the award by providing misleading information and concealing facts.
The petition, citing Article 259 of the Presidential Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan for 1981, Clause 12, states that Dr Gilani received the Ibn al-Haytham Prize in 1995 from the Pakistan Academy of Sciences and the ‘Talented Scientist Award’ from Sri Lanka in 1998 even though he had not received approval from the federal government.
The Gazette of Pakistan published on 28 April 1975, Section 4 of Act No XI.III, states that a person who does not comply with the law cannot be entitled to the awards. Therefore, the “accused is not eligible for Hilal-e-Imtiaz”.
According to the information, Gilani did not even seek the permission of the Secretary Higher Education and the Governor/Chancellor and as per official decorum, the nomination of the accused was not through proper channel. The petition states that according Dr Gilani provided the same information for his nomination for the Sitara-e-Imtiaz in 2005. This same information was submitted for receiving the Hilal-e-Imtiaz.
According to Section A (ii) of the criteria for selection, the accused claimed he has more than 15 years of experience in administration in his performance in various fields, which has 10 marks, while Dr Gilani has less experience. As per Section A (iii) for evaluation in various fields, Dr Gilani got 30 marks for international publications whereas he provided the same information to receive Sitara-e-Imtiaz which is violation of rules and deception.
The petition claims that the 15 marks obtained for the publication of the article in impact factor journals were all published before 2005 on which they have received star distinctions which can be verified. According to Section A (vi), Dr Gilani has also written for Hilal Imtiaz that he has made 20 PhD Scholars and more than 20 MPhil scholars from 2005 to 2020, which is against the rules of Higher Education Commission.
The petitioner had appealed to the FIA authorities to review the case to expose the forgery and also to inform the concerned bodies as it threatens the sanctity of the prestigious civil awards.
The petitioner had also sent a copy of his complaint to the Additional Secretary III Cabinet Division, after which he was again reminded of the complaint on March 2, 2021. The FIA (ACC) Abbottabad Investigating Officer Sehrish Zeb formally launched an inquiry on August 12. The petitioner was told to appear at the FIA office in Musa Colony, Mirpur Road and record the statement.
The complainant Haji Muhammad Rashid told the FIA Abbottabad authorities that he lives in Mailsi Tehsil, Vehari District, and cannot travel so the statement should be taken online, in writing or other arrangement should be made. The FIA officials asked him to write affidavit and send the complaint which was received.
In the meantime, the Haripur University VC, through Additional Registrar Riaz Muhammad, summoned the complainant to Haripur and offered to appoint him on the vacant post of Deputy Registrar Establishment to withdraw the application
After refusal, the complainant was allegedly threatened by the vice-chancellor, after which instead of taking any action by the FIA officials, the matter was turned upside down. It is learned that the date for submission of nomination papers of Hilal-e-Imtiaz was also extended for Dr Gilani, despite which he allegedly resorted to forgery.
When contacted in this regard, VC Haripur University Prof Dr Anwar-ul-Hassan Gilani said that the information given for Hilal-e-Imtiaz was not given for Sitara-e-Imtiaz as the first civil award was announced on August 14, 2004.
Dr. Gilani said that no inquiry is pending and his Hilal Imtiaz form was submitted on the first date. Referring to the selection board, he said that at present no plan of the selection board has been announced while his scientific professionalism and honesty are well known in the community.
