The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed Punjab Assembly member of PML-Q from Faisalabad (PP-63) to appear before the court on Thursday (today) along with his academic certificates to resolve a controversy over the claim that his Madrassah degree was equivalent to graduation from any university.
The bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry summoned Muhammad Ajmal, MPA from PP-63, Faisalabad while hearing his plea seeking instructions for the election tribunal to expedite the issue of his degree (Sanad) challenged by Rana Aftab, chairman PPP, Punjab.
In addition, the court asked Registrar, Wafaqul Madaras Al-Arabia Pakistan to depute an officer well acquainted with the issues, besides asking Chairman Higher Education Commission to appear in person with relevant record showing an equivalence of a Madrassah Sanad with university degree.
Representing the MPA, Advocate Ashtar Ausaf said that Muhammad Ajmal got degree from a religious institute; it is not fake and equivalent to BA degree. When asked regarding the institute (Madsarrah), Ashtar said that Darul Aloom Mehmoodia Azeem Abadi, Bunnu had awarded him a Sanad. Justice Tariq Parvez, who belongs to NWFP observed that it was not a recognised institute.
Meanwhile, the bench also adjourned hearing of a petition filed by Shahid Orakzai for an indefinite period (till date in office) after directing the petitioner to produce an order of appellate tribunal disqualifying him to contest elections from PP-10 Rawalpindi.