Livestock minister to prove degree’s validity

Court rejects the arguments presented by the minister’s counsel; next hearing on December 13

ISLAMABAD: Election authorities have asked the federal Minister for Livestock Humayun Aziz Kurd to prove the validity of his educational credentials by December 13 to avoid a possible disqualification.

The committee was hearing cases of fake/invalid educational certificates of public office-holders on Monday.

Kurd’s lawyer, Mustafa Nawaz Khokar, argued that his client’s degree was not fake, but had been declared invalid, adding that it was neither forged nor fake and did not fall under the purview of corrupt practices.

Rejecting his arguments, the committee informed him of the criteria for recognising universities and told him to prove the degree’s validity during the next hearing, which was fixed for December 13.

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan appeared on behalf of Syed Akhunzada Chitan of NA-44 and informed the committee that two election petitions regarding the fake degree of his client are pending in the Election Tribunal in Abbottabad. He requested the committee to allow his client to defend his case, after which the committee asked him to provide copies of the petitions.

Muhammad Amjad appeared on behalf of Zulfiqar Ali of PP-271 and pleaded that a case filed by his client’s political opponent was pending in the Election Tribunal in Lahore, adding that copies of the case have already been produced before the committee.  The committee asked him to provide the tribunal’s order sheet.

Naseem Nasir Khawaja, a provincial lawmaker elected on a reserved seat, had sent a letter seeking adjournment. The committee fixed December 13 as the final date of hearing.

Ali Abdullah, who appeared on behalf of Syeda Majida Zaidi, another Punjab assembly legislator elected on a reserved seat, also sought adjournment of his client’s case.

The committee fixed her case for final hearing on November 29. Safina Saima Khar, another Punjab provincial assembly lawmaker on a reserved seat, had called for adjourning her case, which was later fixed for a final hearing on November 29.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2010.