Poll body extends degree case hearing deadline

ECP decides to continue hearing cases of parliamentarians allegedly possessing fake degrees.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to continue the hearings into cases of parliamentarians allegedly possessing fake degrees for three weeks as its earlier deadline of concluding the initial inquiry expires today, officials said.

The decision was taken at an ECP meeting as the poll body could not meet the deadline for a variety of reasons. A three-member committee investigating the matter sought more time to conclude the hearings, the officials added.

“We can’t give a definite timeframe for the completion of the hearing because parliamentarians who have dubious degrees never co-operated with the committee,” said Afzal Khan, the head of the ECP probe panel.

He said some 30 legislators have appeared before the ECP out of a total 59. “Some 20 public representatives will appear before the special committee of ECP with their degrees declared fake by the Higher Education Commission,” he added.

Seven MNAs are scheduled to appear before the committee today. They are Salman Mohsin, Jawad Hussain, Diwan Ashiq Hussain, Hayatullah Khan Tareen of NA 155, Ghulam Dastigeer Rajar of NA 235, Muhammad Safdar Gill of NA 274 and Mazhar Hayat of NA 138.

Some 11 Punjab Assembly members would also appear before the panel. Among them are two woman MPAs – Samina Khawar Hayat and Saima Aziz.

Other members of Punjab Assembly called to appear before the panel are Ijaz Ahmad of PP 209 and Sardar Meer Badshah Khan Qaisrani .

Safdar Gill, Sohail Kamran, Shaukat Aziz Bhatti, Iqbal Langrial and Shabina Riaz will clarify their position on their alleged involvement in obtaining fake degrees.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2010.