Abid Sher Ali, the MNA that heads National Assembly Standing Committee on Education has now issued a statement that he would get the verification process initiated for all government departments including the Department of Defence. Being a retired soldier, I can say with complete confidence that this is already being done assiduously in Pakistan Army for all cadres. Verification of educational certificates/degrees is the norm for induction of all officers since long and after the standards were raised to matriculation for induction as a soldier, it is also a routine for ordinary soldier as well. People with under-matric qualifications can join as cooks and tradesmen only but even their middle standard certificates are verified from their respective DEOs. The government-approved Army Instructions are applied consistently for every certificate (required for officer/soldier entry) which is duly verified from the respective Educational Board/University. Fake certificate/degree holders are thrown out instantly and made to pay back the amounts spent on them or paid to them. Keep these strict standards in view and tell me isn't it a discrimination that those who set the rules violate these so deliberately and all the while ask for others to be made accountable for their misdeeds? Mr Abid Sher Ali is welcome to verify all I have said from the GHQ but can he ensure the same punishment to his defaulting colleagues that Army administers to those in its ranks? -KHALID AWAN, Islamabad, July 29.