UK officials clueless about Zardari's degree

London, Mar 21 : Officials in Britain have failed to find any document substantiating Pakistan People's Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari's claim that he has done his graduation or attained equivalent qualification from the UK.

"All that I can share with you on the basis of my information is that Zardari passed his examination and qualified from Cadet College Petaro, Dadu. It was not a degree as the Petaro College is not a degree college," PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar told the Dawn.

Babar further said that Zardari studied business and economics in a school in London, which is now known as the London School of Economics and Business.

The spokesperson further said that academic qualifications from London School of Economics and Business were said to be equivalent to a degree, but he did not know the 'exact title' of Zardari's degree and address of the institution.

Edubase UK, the country's official body responsible for maintaining records of all private and public educational institutions, is also clueless.

"In order to ascertain whether or not an institution exists, I conduct a search on three registers, Edubase, The Register of Education and Training Providers and the UK Register of Learning Providers. I have been unable to find evidence of this institution," the daily quoted an Edubase official, as saying.

An official at the UK Register of Learning Providers said: "Unfortunately, I have not been able to locate London School of Economics and Business."

To become a parliamentarian a minimum degree of graduation is required, a condition introduced in 2002.

According to political analysts, if Zardari is seeking to be a parliamentarian then he will have to submit his degree to the Election Commission, else the PPP and its coalition partners will have change the criteria by a constitutional amendment.

Credible records of Zardari attending Cadet College in Petaro exist. He joined the college's Jinnah House in 1966 as a student of eighth grade.

"The issue of academic qualifications and their equivalence did not arise until now. However, now that the media is asking about it we are trying to gather full details," said Babar.

ANI