Court rejects candidate's plea

Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday refused to allow a religious leader Hafiz Assaad Ubaid for contesting local bodies elections on the ground that the applicant has failed to produce his matriculation certificate.
According to details, Hafiz Assaad, holder of PhD degree passed his secondary school examinations through religious institutions. He, who was contesting election from Union Council 94 of Shadman in Data Gang Bukhsh Town, approached the Supreme Court with a petition that concerned district returning officer had refused to accept his nomination papers, in absence of his matriculation certificate.
He contended that he was a PhD degree holder, but the full bench of the apex court, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, rejected his plea saying that the Supreme Court had already declared that certificate of religious institutions were not equivalent to matriculation certificate, and such candidates should also pass compulsory subjects including Urdu, English and Pakistan Studies.