18 more fake degrees

Eighteen new parliamentarians were found to be in possession of fake degrees.

ISLAMABAD: Eighteen more MNAs, MPAs and senators were found in possession of fake degrees on Tuesday.

Sources said the out of the 18 fake degree holders two are senators, two are MNAs while fourteen are MPAs. The sources added that the HEC has sent the report to the Education Ministry for further action.

Meanwhile HEC representative Dr Mahmood Raza informed that degrees of 47 parliamentarians are fake, 224 are genuine while some cases of educational qualifications are pending in courts.

Dr Raza said Sindh University and Balochistan University have sent verified degrees but they have also been asked to send filled forms which they received from the HEC.

Dr Raza said HEC is following the routine process of getting filled forms which it uses while verifying degree of any ordinary person.

He said HEC is also awaiting information from some foreign universities while some have already informed it about status of degrees of parliamentarians.

The process of degree verification of 1170 lawmakers was initiated by HEC to check authenticity of their academic qualifications issued by Pakistani universities, deeni madaris and foreign universities.

Fake degree holder to contest polls again

The Lahore High Court’s election tribunal allowed PPP candidate Aamir Yar Warn to contest the by-polls in NA -84.

Warn had resigned from his office after his degree was declared fake, but decided to contest the NA-184 by-polls to reclaim the seat he left vacant.

His opposing candidate filed a petition in court, seeking his disqualification from the by-polls, but the court dismissed the petition.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has directed the election commission to take action against Warn for acquiring a fake degree. No action has been taken by the election commission in this regard so far.