Bogus degrees: Election Commission begins criminal proceedings

ECP forwards three cases to respective district police officers.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has started criminal proceedings against fake degree holders by forwarding three cases to respective district police officers on Thursday.

Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Hamid Ali Mirza sent cases of Punjab Assembly members Farah Deeba and Shoukat Aziz Bhatti, and former Balochistan Assembly member Zahoor Hussain Khosa. The ECP has asked the police to register criminal cases for involvement in corrupt practices under Section 78(3)(d) of the Representation of the People Act, 1976.

Deeba’s degree was declared bogus by the University of the Punjab, while Khosa’s degree was declared fake by the Supreme Court on August 30.

Bhatti’s case is even more interesting as he allegedly used a Bachelors degree, issued by the University of the Punjab, in the name of Shoukat Aziz Sheikh. However, the original degree holder appeared before the nominated officer on December 6 and, on oath, declared that Bhatti had fraudulently used his degree.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2010.