Bhakkar’s influential: Nawani brothers’ nominations rejected

LAHORE: The objections raised against the forged educational degrees of Nawani brothers, an influential political family of Bhakkar, were finally accepted after eleven years.

The Returning Officers on Sunday rejected the nomination papers of Rasheed Akbar Khan Niwani for NA-74, Hameed Akbar Khan Niwani for PP-48 and Saeed Akbar Khan Niwani for PP-49.

Opponents of the Nawanis were fighting a case of fake degree against Rasheed Akbar Khan Nawani since 2002. Punjab University, Quetta University, Jamia alMuntazar and Higher Education Commission had declared the educational documents of the Nawanis forged in 2003, however, they continued as MPA, MNA and even provincial minister under the PML-N Punjab government. Interestingly, another Returning Officer, Tariq Masood Bhatti Additional Session Judge Bhakar has accepted the nomination papers of Hameed Akbar Nawani as candidate of PP-48.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 8^th, 2013.