Hearing in nine degree cases adjourned
Several lawmakers hold degrees from religious seminaries.
ISLAMABAD:
A committee constituted by the Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday resumed initial hearing into cases of nine lawmakers whose degrees were declared invalid or fake by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). Most of them hold degrees from religious seminaries.
Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Abdul Samad Akhunzada from PB-7 and Member National Assembly (MNA) Maulvi Haji Roziuddin from NA-262 appeared in person and presented the relevant documents. Akhunzada pleaded his case while Roziuddin was informed by the committee that his institution is not recognised by the HEC. Both lawmakers were asked to provide credible defence and December 20 was fixed as the final date for hearing their cases.
Lawyers appeared on behalf of MPA Yar Muhmmad Rind from PB-31 and MPA Ijaz Ahmed from PP-209 and requested for adjournments on various grounds. While Rind has a case pending in the Lahore High Court, Ahmad’s senior counsel is suffering from dengue fever, their advocates explained. The committee asked them for a written reply and corresponding documents and fixed December 6 and December 13, respectively, as final dates for hearing the cases.
Meanwhile, Ahmad’s seminary will also be requested to provide a clarification.
A representative of MNA Mir Ahmedan Khan from NA-265 and the brother of MPA Maulvi Obaidullah from KPK-61 appeared before the committee and requested for adjournment due to their non-availability. December 20 and December 13 have been fixed as final dates for hearing their cases, respectively.
MPA Khalifa Abdul Qayyum from KPK-64, MPA Malak Iqbal Ahmed Langriyal from PP-226 and Wali Muhammad, a senator from Balochistan, did not appear before the committee, which decided to serve final notices, asking them to appear on December 13, failing which the cases will be sent to the Chief Election Commissioner.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2010.
A committee constituted by the Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday resumed initial hearing into cases of nine lawmakers whose degrees were declared invalid or fake by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). Most of them hold degrees from religious seminaries.
Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Abdul Samad Akhunzada from PB-7 and Member National Assembly (MNA) Maulvi Haji Roziuddin from NA-262 appeared in person and presented the relevant documents. Akhunzada pleaded his case while Roziuddin was informed by the committee that his institution is not recognised by the HEC. Both lawmakers were asked to provide credible defence and December 20 was fixed as the final date for hearing their cases.
Lawyers appeared on behalf of MPA Yar Muhmmad Rind from PB-31 and MPA Ijaz Ahmed from PP-209 and requested for adjournments on various grounds. While Rind has a case pending in the Lahore High Court, Ahmad’s senior counsel is suffering from dengue fever, their advocates explained. The committee asked them for a written reply and corresponding documents and fixed December 6 and December 13, respectively, as final dates for hearing the cases.
Meanwhile, Ahmad’s seminary will also be requested to provide a clarification.
A representative of MNA Mir Ahmedan Khan from NA-265 and the brother of MPA Maulvi Obaidullah from KPK-61 appeared before the committee and requested for adjournment due to their non-availability. December 20 and December 13 have been fixed as final dates for hearing their cases, respectively.
MPA Khalifa Abdul Qayyum from KPK-64, MPA Malak Iqbal Ahmed Langriyal from PP-226 and Wali Muhammad, a senator from Balochistan, did not appear before the committee, which decided to serve final notices, asking them to appear on December 13, failing which the cases will be sent to the Chief Election Commissioner.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2010.