Dubious credentials: Two more degree cases sent to court

ECP declares degrees of Haji Nasir Mehmood of the Punjab Assembly and Bashir Ahmed Khan of the Sindh Assembly as fake.

ISLAMABAD:

Election authorities on Monday sent two more cases of fake degree holders to the courts for legal action, while a panel of the election commission closed another two cases sending them to the Chief of the Election Commissioner (CEC) for further action.

The commission sent the cases of MPA Ali Madad Jattak and former MNA Amir Yar Waran for legal action as their degrees were declared fake by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and they failed to prove their innocence during the initial hearings conducted by a committee of the Election Commission.

Bashir Ahmed Khan, MPA (PS-56) remained absent during the Monday’s proceedings after the HEC informed that the intermediate certificate submitted by him was fake. The Committee decided to close the case and submit it to the CEC.

MPA (PS-Reserved) Mukhesh Kumar’s counsel Suresh Kumar pleaded that his client changed his surname in 2007 and the rest of the particulars are correct as mentioned in the degree submitted by his client. He also contended that the reports submitted by the controller of examinations are mala fide as the university had verified the degree of his client.  The committee remarked that the written reply of his client is part of the record and the case is being submitted to the CEC.

MPA (PK-64) Khalifa Abdul Qayyum Khan, who appeared in person, clarified that his degree was issued by an institution that was not recognised by the HEC – something that he was unaware of. Therefore, he added, his degree should not be labeled fake or bogus.

MNA (NA-235) Ghulam Dastagir Rajar’s counsel Malik Shaukat Ali pleaded that the second degree submitted by his client was handed to the HEC for verification. The focal person of the HEC informed that a reply is still awaited from Sindh University.

Masood Sarwar Tarar appeared on behalf of MPA (PP-Reserved) Afshan Farooq and the Committee advised him to re-verify the degree of his client from the institution (Preston University) from where she has obtained the degree.

MNA (NA-265) Mir Ahmedan Khan’s representative Asif sought adjournment for the submission of a written reply.

MPA (PB-7) Abdul Samad Akhunzada’s Advocate Baz Muhammad Kakar submitted power of attorney with interim reply with the request to adjourn the case for submission of a detailed reply.

In the case of Molvi Haji Rozi Uddin, MNA (NA-262), a written request was received by the committee for adjournment of the case. MNA (NA-165) Syed Muhammad Salman Mohsin’s representative Zulfiqar appeared before the Committee and sought adjournment.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2010.