Degrees of 11 former lawmakers declared fake: scrutiny to continue even after polls: ECP

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Sunday declared 11 former parliamentarians' degrees fake. The ECP's Additional Secretary told media persons on Sunday that the process of scrutiny would continue even after the elections and those found to have deceived would be disqualified even after the clearance of their nomination papers and elections.
The ECP also issued a press release which was distributed among media persons regarding its decision to declare degrees of 11 former Parliamentarians fake. The ECP stated that the Supreme Court in its judgement passed on April 1 this year had directed the ECP to revisit the 27 cases which the Commission had earlier either cleared or closed on various grounds.
Accordingly, notices were issued to 15 degree holders, three of whom had since passed away and degrees of nine members were cleared by the Higher Education Commission. After hearing these 15 cases, respondents on April 5-6 this year, the degrees of the 11 members were found fake/invalid.
Fake degree holders included former Senators Israrullah Khan Zehri, Rehana Yahya Baloch, Mohabbat Khan Mari and former provincial lawmakers included Samina Khawar Hayat, Seemal Kamran, Shumaila Rana, Shahina Khan, Rana Ijaz Ahmed Noon, Bashir Ahmed Khan, Nawabzada Tariq Magsi and Mir Nadir Magsi.
The ECP, in the light of the directives of Supreme Court, in its judgment, had decided to de-notify them as well as to initiate criminal proceedings in their respective courts. The ECP further stated that in the case of Mukesh Kumar Chawla former MPA, the earlier decision of the Commission was maintained whereas in the case of Rubina Irfan, HEC counsels and director, had given a written statement that the degree of former MPA was genuine. Therefore, the commission dropped the proceedings against her.
The case of Pitanbar Sewani, a former MPA, was partly heard. His case was adjourned for full hearing on April 11 as the ECP has summoned full record from the university and the Board concerned. The case of Nawabzada Muhammad Akbar was also heard.