ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday directed the parliamentarians holding fake degrees to submit their relevant documents to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) before April 5 otherwise they could face criminal cases.
As many as 189 lawmakers have yet not filed their educational certificates even after repeated reminders by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the HEC.
This was directed by a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry when it resumed hearing of the case pertaining to the fake degrees of lawmakers.
The Chief Justice remarked that the degrees of 54 parliamentarians were fake while 189 lawmakers were failed to submit their educational documents during the last two and a half years.
The CJ further added that these parliamentarians who have yet not submitted their certificates for the verification could also face criminal action against them as per the Constitution of Pakistan for submitting false statements.
Secretary Election Commission Ishtiaq Ahmed presented a report before the court and apprised about the cases of fake degrees against the former parliamentarians.
He apprised the court that the former parliamentarians were repeatedly informed to get their educational degrees verified but in vain.
He stated that the HEC conveyed information of 69 fake degrees of the parliamentarians and taking action upon the information, the ECP had already forwarded the names of these fake degree holders to the relevant courts for further action.
Meanwhile, Chairman HEC apprised the bench that the process of the verification of degrees was still underway which was stated by the HEC in 2010.
Upon this, the Chief Justice remarked that the degrees should be issued from an approved institution and this matter should be opened to monitor for all.
Later, the court gave a deadline of April 5 to the 189 lawmakers, directing them to submit their educational certificates for verification and adjourned hearing till April 8.
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