Pakistan

Justice delayed: ECP de-notifies Sumaira Malik as MNA

Malik’s husband and others allegedly involved in the affair have not been penalised.

Our Correspondent November 26, 2013

PML-N’s Sumaira Malik. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD:

After Supreme Court declared her disqualified for possessing fake educational credentials, the election authorities on Monday de-notified Sumaira Malik as a Member National Assembly (MNA).

The notification issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) de-notified her election as member of National Assembly in the 2008 and 2013 general elections. However, there is no mention of her status from 2002 to 2007, when she entered the assembly as a member for the first time.

In its judgment released on October 28 this year, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court declared that Sumaria Mailk had obtained her graduation degree through impersonation in 2002

“Ms Sumaira Malik is hereby declared to be disqualified from becoming Member of Parliament with all its consequences noted hereinabove,” reads the court order.

Interestingly, in its notification ECP mentions, “Sumaira Malik shall be deemed to never be declared an elected Member of the National Assembly from constituency No NA-69 Khushab-1 during General Election, 2008 and General Elections 2013”.

There is no mention of her status as a member of the lower house of parliament for the earlier period, when she not only enjoyed the status of legislator but also minister in the 2002 to 2007 parliament.

Malik’s is a classic case of delayed justice, where she enjoyed her status as parliamentarian for two consecutive tenures and was in her third term as member of the National Assembly when the court gave a decision.

Her opponent and runner-up candidate, Mailk Umar Aslam had secured 60,413 votes against Sumaira Malik’s 61,076 in the general elections held on February 2, 2008.

Not only had he challenged Malik’s educational credentials, but also the conduct of the election staff and returning officer.

The ECP said that a schedule for by-polls in this constituency will be notified by next week.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2013.