OGRA chief’s LLM degree dubious

ISLAMABAD – The Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Thursday declared that the university which had awarded LLM degree to Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) Chairman Tauqir Sadiq was neither recognised by the government of Pakistan nor the United Kingdom and the US.
The OGRA chairman claimed that he had obtained a Master’s in Law from American University of London which, according to the HEC was not recognised both in the UK and the US. The OGRA chairman’s degree and his appointment had been challenged in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by OGRA Executive Director (Technical) Muhammad Yasin and Office Secretary Muhammad Anwar.
They had pleaded in the IHC that Sadiq’s appointment in July 2009 was against the rules of the organisation and his LLM degree was also doubtful. Later, the IHC directed the HEC to check whether American University of London was a charted university or not. Following the court’s directives, the HEC carried out investigations and found the status of the university questionable anywhere including the UK and the US.
“We were just directed by the IHC to check whether American University of London is charted or not. And we have informed the court that this university is not a recognised one,” spokesman of the HEC said. Talking to Pakistan Today, the OGRA chairman said he had never claimed that he possessed a degree issued by American University of London.
“I earned LLM degree from American University in England,” he claimed.