A sessions court in Multan has sentenced former MNA Jamshed Dasti seven-year jail term for possessing a fake academic degree. He was convicted under Sections 420 (cheating) and 471 (using forged documents), among other charges.
The case was initiated by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which alleged that Dasti contested the 2008 general elections using a fraudulent Bachelor’s degree. The Sindh Higher Education Commission confirmed that it had no record of the degree in question.
The prosecution argued that Dasti violated Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution by concealing the truth about his qualifications, rendering him ineligible to hold public office. Although elected from NA-178 Muzaffargarh in 2008, he was later disqualified after the degree was declared invalid.
Despite this, Dasti was re-elected in the 2024 general elections from NA-175 Muzaffargarh but faced disqualification again, this time for submitting a fake intermediate certificate. In July, the ECP disqualified him following a reference from the National Assembly speaker and petitions seeking his disqualification.
A three-member ECP bench, led by Member (Sindh) Nisar Durrani, also examined concerns over Dasti’s assets, liabilities, and academic credentials. During the hearing, the K-P member questioned whether Dasti had undisclosed assets and scrutinised the authenticity of his claimed FA qualification.
The petitioner’s counsel informed the commission that Dasti had falsely declared an intermediate qualification, while in reality, he had not even completed matriculation. He had submitted a matriculation certificate issued by the Karachi Board.
The ECP ruled in favor of the petitioners, approved two disqualification petitions, and directed criminal proceedings against Dasti. Legal action is being pursued under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution and Sections 4, 9, and 137 of the Elections Act, 2017.
In May, the ECP ordered the Karachi education board to verify Dasti’s academic credentials, increasing legal pressure on the controversial politician.
Once known for his populist rhetoric and independent politics, Dasti’s career is now overshadowed by repeated legal setbacks and disqualifications related to forged educational qualifications. Legal proceedings are ongoing, with further consequences expected following his recent convictions.
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