The Gilgit-Baltistan Civil Court in Pakistan has issued an arrest warrant for Muhammad Khalid Khurshid, the former Chief Minister of the region, after his continued absence in a high-profile fake degree case. Khurshid was disqualified from his position as Chief Minister in July 2023 following allegations that he had submitted fake academic credentials.
Khurshid, who was previously the president of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) in the region, has consistently denied the charges of obtaining a fake degree and had vowed to take legal action against those responsible for bringing the case to court. However, he has failed to appear in court to defend himself.
The case was initiated when Ghulam Shahzad Agha, a member of the Pakistan Peoples’ Party, challenged Khurshid’s degree in the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court in May 2023. The court formed a three-member bench to review the validity of his academic credentials, involving the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the Election Commission of Pakistan, and the regional Bar Council.
During the hearings, the HEC informed the court that the law degree Khurshid presented, allegedly from the University of London, was never verified as authentic. Khurshid had also submitted a second law degree from the Belford University, which was later exposed as fraudulent. Belford University was a fictitious institution linked to the infamous Axact diploma mill scandal, where fake degrees were sold globally.
Both of Khurshid’s degrees were found to be fraudulent. As a result, the court disqualified him from the Chief Minister position in July 2023. A criminal case for fraud and cheating was registered against him in August 2023, though he secured bail before being arrested.
Despite being disqualified as the regional head of PTI in December 2023 by the Election Commission, Khurshid has evaded arrest through protective bail. His whereabouts remain unknown, and he has failed to respond to the court’s arrest warrant, issued on April 18, 2024, by Civil Court Judge Hidayat Ali.
Further investigations revealed that Khurshid’s Belford University degree had been issued by Axact, a Karachi-based company involved in running a global fake diploma operation. The company was implicated in selling fraudulent diplomas, including those from Belford University, which was later exposed by U.S. authorities.
The case is part of a broader issue of fake degrees in Pakistan, which has been a widespread problem, particularly among politicians and public officials. Several politicians, including Khurshid, have faced scrutiny for submitting fraudulent credentials to gain public office.
Analysts point out that the issue of fake degrees persists because the institutions involved in these scams, such as Axact, have not faced sufficient legal consequences. Critics argue that the lack of substantial punishment for those behind diploma mills has allowed this illegal business to continue unchecked.
Muhammad Saleem, Vice-Chancellor of Peshawar University, expressed concerns over the ongoing prevalence of fake degrees, stating that until those responsible for producing these fraudulent credentials are held accountable, the practice will persist.
Despite significant media attention and public outcry, Doctor Fareeha Armughan, a researcher at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, emphasized that Pakistan’s legal system must take stronger action against the fraudulent business of fake degrees to prevent further abuses of power.
The case of Khurshid highlights the serious implications of fake academic credentials and their impact on the credibility of public office holders in Pakistan.