he Higher Education Commission (HEC) seems to not be taking action against professors who have been proven to have plagiarised their work and the 38 professors who were blacklisted are still working in various universities.

Just a few days ago, the HEC had directed the International Islamic University Islamabad (IlUI) to impose a penalty on the dean of the faculty of basic and applied sciences, Dr Mohammad Sher for plagiarism and that the university submit a report after complying with the order.

IlUI`s Plagiarism Standing Committee also investigated the matter, provided the Dr Sher with an opportunity to defend himself and recommended that all the benefits, financial and otherwise, which he has received on the basis of plagiarised papers be withdrawn.

However, instead of taking action against the professor in order to discourage plagiarism, IlUI gave him additional charge as chairman of the Department of Environmental Sciences in place of Dr Mohammad Irfan.

On the other hand IlUI Rector Dr Masoom Yasinzai defended the decision and said:`We did not take action against Dr Sher because he obtained a stay order from the court. As for giving him new charge, we followed the rules and regulations.

The HEC has on several occasions acknowledged that universities are not taking action against plagiarists.

`We have decided the issue of the university [not complying with our directives] before our commission or perhaps before the Vice Chancellors Committee,` said HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed. He said there will be no compromise on the issue and that universities will have to act for stopping academic dishonesty.