Fake degree case: Charges framed against K-P sports minister

Attorney argued that a criminal case cannot be initiated against his client since a civil case is pending before court

PESHAWAR:

A Peshawar court framed charges against Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Minister for Sports Syed Aqil Shah for possessing a fake degree.

The hearing on Thursday was held before District and Sessions Judge Shahbar Khan, who adjourned the hearing after citing the charges.  Shah was also present inside the courtroom.

Shah, an Awami National Party (ANP) MPA, has a graduation degree from a university in Lahore that is not recognised by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

Earlier, during a case hearing on October 25, Shah’s attorney Abdul Latif had submitted an application to adjourn the hearing. Latif contended that his client has already filed a civil suit against the university for issuing degrees without having the authority to do so. The attorney had argued that a criminal case cannot be initiated against his client since a civil case is pending before court.

During a case hearing on October 17, the court had issued Shah’s arrest warrant when he failed to appear. The arrest warrant was later withdrawn on the same day and Shah’s bail request was also approved against Rs400,000 with two reliable sureties.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2012.