Fake degree case: Former MPA, MNA awarded jail terms

Both also need to pay penalty worth Rs5000 each in addition to the sentence.

ISLAMABAD/ DI KHAN: A district and session judge awarded a three-year sentence in jail to former MPA Khalifa Abdul Qayyum and one-year sentence to MNA Mir Humayun Aziz Kurd for holding fake degrees, Express News reported on Tuesday.

Both the members were also fined Rs5,000 each.

The court was hearing the cases of the politicians who allegedly hold a fake degree and were disqualified because of it.

Qayyum had appeared in the court in December 2010 and clarified that his degree was issued by an institution that was not recognised by the HEC – something that he was unaware of. He had then requested not to label his degree fake or bogus.

Qayyum had won the elections in 2008 as an independent candidate.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) on March 29, declared that degrees of 54 politicians are fake and another 189 were yet to be verified.

Around 249 parliamentarians had not submitted their Matric and FA degrees to the commission yet, the election commission secretary said on March 26.

Having a graduation degree is no more a legal requirement to participate in elections, but anyone who is proved of having forged in the past stands disqualified to take part in elections.

SC issues detailed verdict

The Supreme Court issued a detailed verdict in the fake degrees case on Tuesday and ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take action against all fake degree holders.

The 8-page verdict, penned down by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, stated that it was the ECP’s responsibility to initiate action against fake degree holders and to disqualify them.