Forged degree case: PTI objects to PFSA report in Sumaira Malik case

Calls report incorrect, dishonest, biased and prepared under undue influence

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Malik Umar Aslam has raised objections to Punjab Forensic Science Agency’s (PFSA) report to validate educational record of ex-MNA Sumaira Malik.

The top court disqualified Sumaira Malik on October 28, 2013, barring her from contesting polls for life on charges of forging her degree of graduation.

Later, the petitioner had filed a review petition through her counsel Asma Jahangir against SC’s October 28, 2013 judgment that slapped a life ban on her contesting future elections. Former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had authored the verdict.

The larger bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar hearing review petition, had ordered PFSA to verify the photographs of Sumaira Malik, which were attached with her educational record.

The PFSA in its report validated that no forgery was committed by Sumaira Malik in her examination form of graduation.

However, the PTI’s candidate Malik Umar Aslam, through his counsel Hamid Khan, has objected to the process and said that PFSA’s findings could not be set aside.

The application states that the report is ex-facie incorrect, dishonest, biased and prepared and presented under undue influence and pressure of the government in power, adding that the review petitioner belongs to the ruling political party in the Punjab and federal government and wields huge influence over officials like the person making the report.

It is further stated that the discerning quality of the human eye in distinguishing human faces, their structures, features and other attributes cannot be matched by so-called modern technology. Therefore, former chief justice Iftikhar’s bench, while hearing the appeal, correctly decided to inspect and decipher with naked eyes the identity of the person through comparison of photographs to who took the examination.

The application contends that any court can undertake the exercise of inspection of photographs and other evidence under Article 84 of the Qanun-e- Shahadat 1984.

“The photographs of Sumaira Malik exhibit a broad jawed lady whereas the lady who appeared in the questioned examination does not have broad jaw. The lips forehead, nose chin and other facial features of the two ladies in photographs are very different. Even a person with week eyesight can decipher that”, says the application.

It is stated that a so-called laboratory expert could not see that there was significant difference in the ages of the two women in photographs.

The application contends that the photograph of Sumaira Malik depicts a lady around 40 years of age and the lady with glasses (who actually appeared in the examination appears to be in her twenties).

The PTI candidate requested the SC to reject the PFSA report.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2016.