Fake degree disqualifies PML-N MNA

LAHORE: An election tribunal of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday disqualified a Pakistan Muslim League –Nawaz (PML-N) MNA from by-elections, for holding a fake degree.

The tribunal declared Mudassar Qayyum Nahra disqualified under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution and directed the election commission to hold a fresh election for the vacant seat within 60 days.

Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh issued the order while accepting a petition moved by Pakistan Muslim League -Quaid member, Chaudhry Bilal Ijaz, a defeated candidate from the constituency.

Previously when the election tribunal had to announce its verdict on the case, it was delayed by Nahra’s lawyer, who in a bid to save his client from disqualification, sought more time to put some documents on record.

The tribunal had given Nahra an option of resigning from the seat in three days. However, Nahra did not resign and preferred to wait for the court verdict.

The petitioner had submitted that Nahra had a fake BA degree but had won elections in 2002 and 2008 as MPA and MNA respectively. He submitted that Nahra had appeared in BA exams in 1993 but was found guilty of illegal activities by the disciplinary committee of the University of the Punjab.

The committee had disqualified him for three years, the petitioner claimed. Nahra won the election as an independent candidate but later joined PML-N, Ijaz added.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2010.