The higher education ministry said on Saturday it has started reviewing the new Independent Election Commission (IEC) member’s credentials.
This comes after reports surfaced that the new commissioner, Sayed Hafizullah Hashemi, has fake education certificates.
The Ministry of Higher Education’s (MoHE) spokeswoman Arifa Paikar said they have sent letters to the universities in the United States to verify Hashemi’s claims that he graduated there. She said a letter has also been sent to the Afghan embassy in the US requesting their assistance to gather information on the issue.
“It belongs to Ministry of Higher Education (to assess the issue),” Paikar said. “We sent emails to the university in the United States following the issue. Weare waiting for their response. And meanwhile, we will pursue this issue through Afghanistan's political offices in the United States.”
Reports emerged of Hashemi allegedly having fake degrees after his application and certificates for the IEC post were leaked.
A number of MPs in the Wolesi Jirga said Hashemi’s bachelor degree certificate had been issued by a non-existent university in the United States.
They asked the higher education ministry and the foreign ministry to urgently review Hashemi’s documents and verify their credibility.
“There are claims that say fraud has been made in this regard and it must be investigated seriously. It will be made clear that what will he (Hashemi) do during the process as he has started his work by bringing fake certificates,” said Assadullah Saadati, an MP.
“The National Unity Government's flaws are not summarized in a such fake certificate only. We must say that the National Unity Government has a record incommitting frauds,” said Ahmad Behzad, a lawmaker.
Election commission spokesman Abdul Badi Sayyad meanwhile said they are waiting for the higher education ministry to finish its assessments in this regard.
“The claims about the certificates of (Hafizullah) Hashemi should be assessed by Ministry of Higher Education. The Election Commissions SelectionCommittee should have something to say that why they introduced him (Hashemi) to the Presidential Palace,” said Sayyad.
Hashemi’s educational credentials have become a hot topic of discussion – despite him having to start work for the IEC on Sunday.
Sources meanwhile from the election commission said Hashemi is a candidate for the seat of IEC chief.
Before selecting a new commissioner for the IEC, President Ashraf Ghani’s deputy spokesman said Ghani will appoint a new, competent commissioner to the IEC who will have the capabilities to manage the commission.