Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Governor Pir Karam Ali Shah on Thursday urged the people to promote peace and harmony and bring an end to sectarian violence in the valley.

“Students should play their role in reviving the traditional peace, harmony and hospitality of G-B, which are now fast diminishing,” Shah said.

He was speaking at the 5th and 6th joint convocation ceremony of the Karakoram International University (KIU), where 850 students were awarded degrees.

The ceremony was attended by a large number of parents, faculty members, government officials, Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Legislative Assembly Speaker Wazir Baig and G-B force commander. The governor also announced an amount of Rs500,000 for the university, which had been requested by KIU Vice-Chancellor Najma Najam.

Earlier, the vice-chancellor briefed the audience on the university’s achievements and said that the number of PhDs in the university has reached 33 from eight in just two and a half years.
In addition to that, KIU has signed a number of agreements with foreign universities to promote quality education, she added.

She explained that the convocation had been delayed due to the Attabad tragedy, followed by the floods last year.

She also said that the university has introduced several new courses while admissions into engineering programs would start in a year. In addition to that, the university will also start fine arts and law programs next year, she added.

Published in express tribune.

The 5th and 6th joint convocation of held here in the main campus of the University. Pir Karam Ali Shah, Governor Gilgit-Baltistan deigned to give away degrees to the graduates. The convocation started around 10 A.M and it looked all crimson and blue as the graduates seated in the convocation gowns.

About 800 graduates were awarded degrees upon successfully completing their under- graduate and graduate programs. The governor congratulated the graduates and, with that, reminded them of the greater role that a graduate caries on his shoulders.

‘I extend my heartfelt congratulation to all the graduates at this happy occasion and I hope you realize the profound role upon your shoulders to ignite the spirit of peace, prosperity and constructiveness. You are the one who can become the agents of change for a better future and you are the one to build your society” Karam Ali Shah said.

The governor specifically spoke about the law and order situation in Gilgit. He urged the students to play a role to end racism, sectarianism and discriminatory practices in the society.

The VC of the University, Dr. Najma Najam also congratulated the graduates. She expressed her optimism that her students, for sure, be responsible citizens and future leaders. She said that the University is striving to provide quality education to the students at their door-steps despite considerable challenges. She said that steps are being taken to expand scope of programs in order to accommodate maximum career options.

The VC told that the University is in the process of starting law, Fine Arts and Engineering departments quite soon.

The governor awarded more than 30 Gold and silver medals to the high performing graduates. The graduates finished their studies in the fields of Business Management, Linguistics, Social and Natural Sciences.

The University campus was filled with faces smiling, hopeful and confident. This scribe got a chance to speak with Muhammad Karim, a business graduate who runs his own community school, to know about his feelings.

“Man, I am delighted to be called a graduate. KIU was a great experience and I am proud to be its student. I am sure my degree would definitely help me in my practical life.”  He said.

Karakorum International University is the only University in Gilgit-Baltistan established during Musharaf regime in 2002. It has two campuses with more than 2500 students and 150 faculty members. The university has 15 academic departments along with a Professional Development Center (PDC) and an Early Childhood Development Center.

Naveed Hussain and Javeid Alam have contributed to this story for Dardistantimes.

Source (Pamir Times) Toppers of the Karakuram International University (KIU)’s Biological Sciences and Education Department, Kavita Parveen and Asif Hussain, have lost around 520,000 rupees today in an astonishing act of highly organized thuggery. The Deputy Commissioner of Gilgit, vice-chancellor of Karakuram International University (KIU), and the students, all, have been cheated in one of the region’s most fascinating act of theft.

According to details, Kavita Parveen – topper of the KIU Education Department, received a phone call from the vice chancellor’s office (# 05811 – 960040) at around 11:18 in the morning. According to Kavita, Dr. Najma Najam, the vice-chancellor of Karakuram International University, asked her to attend a prize distribution ceremony being held in Islamabad. Kavita told her that she may not be able to attend the ceremony because of short notice period .

Later, two more calls were made to Kavita from the vice-chancellor’s office, at 11:28 and 11:36, and Dr. Najma Najam gave her a number (0321-7591250), asking Kavita to get in touch with Makhdoom Amin Faheem, Federal Trade Minister, for more details about the award ceremony.

Kavita contacted “Makhdoom Amin Fahim” on the number provided by Dr. Najma Najam and was told that President Zardari would be distributing the prizes. The man personifying Makhdoom Amin Fahim asked Kavita to connect him (the personifier) to someone elder in the family.

Kavita’s uncle, Saeedullah Baig, contacted the man personifying Makhdoom Amin Fahim and was told that Kavita is getting a car as prize for topping in her department. He was asked to deposit a sum of rupees 260,000 in a specific bank account, as tax money. He was told to deposit the amount quickly to avail the car.

Kavita’s uncle developed some doubts and visited the Karakuram International University (KIU)’s Gilgit campus to confirm the news. He met the Deputy Registrar, Dr. Shahid Ali, and inquired about the award ceremony. Dr. Shahid Ali, reportedly, told Kavita’s uncle that the toppers’ names had been sent for awards. Dr. Shahid also, reportedly, said that there was a possibility of cars being the prize for the toppers.

Getting the “affirmative” response from the deputy registrar, Saeedullah Baig contacted one of his relatives in Rawalpindi to deposit the said amount in an account provided by the man personifying Makhdoom Amin Faheem.

Details of the account

Account Title: Neelum Imtiaz
Account Number: 032 PKR 01335953001,

Bank: Standard Chartered Bank, Chandni Chowk Branch, Rawalpindi, Deposit Slip Receipt # 274

The relative of Kavita in Rawalpindi contacted the man personifying Makhdoom Amin Fahim and told him that the amount had been deposited in the given account. In response, he was asked to visit the Ministry Secretariat.

On arriving at the secretariat, the relative of Kavita came to know that the Federal Minister had been busy with some official work and there was no award ceremony of that sort taking place.

Sensing true nature of the case, the Ministry staff reportedly contacted the above mentioned Bank’s branch and inquired about the amount deposited. They were told that a woman named Neelum Imtiaz had withdrawn the deposited amount through cheque number 309974.

The relatives of Kavita immediately tried to contact Dr. Najma Najam but she could not be reached.

Later, the VC’s camp office in Islamabad called Kavita and told her that Dr. Najma had been busy with some official work and she had arrived in Islamabad from Gilgit on a flight. Kavita talked to Dr. Najma and told her about the entire story.

Kavita, later, also talked to Registrar of the University, Dr. Ahsan, and repeated the story. The registrar, reportedly, told Kavita to withdraw the amount quickly. However, it was too later.

At around 0730 in the evening, the vice-chancellor talked to Kavita again and asked her to lodge an FIR for the incident. She also said that the university will take appropriate legal actions to nab the culprits.

Pamir Times contacted Dr. Najma to get her opinion on the matter, however, she said that the KIU registrar will share the official statement.

KIU official responds, the plot thickens

On being contacted by Pamir Times, Dr. Ahsan, Registrar of the KIU, said that the vice-chancellor had been approached by Deputy Commissioner of Gilgit, Asad Zamin, informing her about the award ceremony. Dr. Ahsan also said that the details regarding students were provided by KIU to the Deputy Commissioner and the VC then left for Islamabad.

Dr. Ahsan said that KIU and the district administration would investigate the case and the culprits will be nabbed.

He also said that the students and their relatives should have been more cautious. He further said that when Kavita’s uncle approached Dr. Shahid, the deputy registrar, he was discouraged from depositing the amount in the account given by the man personifying Makhdoom Amin Faheem.

The way forward

The above story seems to be taken from a Hollywood thriller. It has all hallmarks of being a perfect case of organized thuggery, in which the deputy commissioner of Gilgit, the vice-chancellor of Karakuram International University, three toppers and their relatives were systematically dodged and robbed.

A proper investigation of the case needs to be carried out by the KIU administration, the DC’s office, the police officials and other relevant agencies, to bring the cheaters to justice, while also recovering the robbed amount to the students.

Sharafat-du-din perform at stage of Karakurum University.

Talib Hussain & Imtiaz Hussain Shaki perform at Karakurum International University in a cultural show.