189 degrees of political candidates under HEC scrutiny
Politicians with unverified degrees must submit all documents in order to contest polls.
Politicians with unverified degrees must submit all related documents within the deadline in order to be eligible to contest polls. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Chairman of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Dr Javaid R Leghari informed the media that the Supreme Court extended the deadline for the degree verification of political candidates to April 5, reported Express News on Monday.
Politicians with unverified degrees must submit all related documents to the HEC within the deadline in order to be eligible to contest polls.
Once a decision is reached about the authenticity of the degree, the matter will be referred to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the final decision of permission to contest polls.
“The chief justice of Pakistan has invoked Article 62 and 63 in the matter of fake degrees” said Leghari.
"The controversy revolved around 189 degrees and the HEC is working up till midnight to cooperate with all involved and to speed the process," Leghari added.
Maintaining that full cooperation is significant, the HEC also nominated officials to work with the ECP to facilitate the process.
The issue of fake degrees has cast a shadow over the political future of scores of former lawmakers as degrees of 54 of them have been declared fake so far.
During today’s hearing, the chief justice said that parliamentarians who have yet not submitted their certificates for the verification could also face criminal action against them as per the Constitution of Pakistan for submitting false statements.
Secretary Election Commission Ishtiaq Ahmed presented a report before the court and informed it about the cases of fake degrees against the former parliamentarians.
He apprised the court that the former parliamentarians were repeatedly informed to get their educational degrees verified but in vain.
The Chairman of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Dr Javaid R Leghari informed the media that the Supreme Court extended the deadline for the degree verification of political candidates to April 5, reported Express News on Monday.
Politicians with unverified degrees must submit all related documents to the HEC within the deadline in order to be eligible to contest polls.
Once a decision is reached about the authenticity of the degree, the matter will be referred to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the final decision of permission to contest polls.
“The chief justice of Pakistan has invoked Article 62 and 63 in the matter of fake degrees” said Leghari.
"The controversy revolved around 189 degrees and the HEC is working up till midnight to cooperate with all involved and to speed the process," Leghari added.
Maintaining that full cooperation is significant, the HEC also nominated officials to work with the ECP to facilitate the process.
The issue of fake degrees has cast a shadow over the political future of scores of former lawmakers as degrees of 54 of them have been declared fake so far.
During today’s hearing, the chief justice said that parliamentarians who have yet not submitted their certificates for the verification could also face criminal action against them as per the Constitution of Pakistan for submitting false statements.
Secretary Election Commission Ishtiaq Ahmed presented a report before the court and informed it about the cases of fake degrees against the former parliamentarians.
He apprised the court that the former parliamentarians were repeatedly informed to get their educational degrees verified but in vain.