The hearing regarding fake/ invalid degrees of 15 MNAs and MPAs was held here on Monday under the Chairmanship of Muhammad Afzal Khan, the Nominated Officer of Election Commission of Pakistan as per the directives of Supreme Court of Pakistan. The Representative/focal Person of Higher Education Commission (HEC), Rahim Bux Channa was also present.
For Samina Khawar Hayat (PP-Reserve), an advocate appeared and filed fresh power of attorney. He also informed that she had replaced her previous counsel with Asif Hafeez, who was unable to appear on Monday due to court cases in the Lahore High Court and provided the relevant cause list of Lahore High Court. The Committee fixed October 25, 2010 for next hearing.
Jehanzeb Akhtar Advocate appeared on behalf of Ijaz Ahmed (PP-209) and asked for two weeks adjournment for filling reply and providing relevant documents. The Committee provided him relevant decisions of Supreme Court about degree cases and fixed October 25, 2010 for next hearing.
Qasim Farooq, brother of Ms Afshan Farooq (PP-Reserve) appeared as her representative and asked for adjournment on the grounds that she is in Hyderabad and cannot appear due to her domestic engagements. The Committee fixed October 25, 2010 as date for next hearing and directed him to appear either in person or through counsel on the same date positively.
Sohail Manzoor Khan, representative of Sardar Mir Badshah Khan Qaisrani (PP-240) appeared and provided previous court decisions of various courts regarding his degree. The Committee after going through these court decisions asked him to provide the final decision in this regard and fixed next date of final hearing as October 25, 2010. Ms Nasim Nasir Khawaja appeared in person and asked for relevant documents for filling reply. The Committee provided her all the relevant documents and fixed October 21, 2010 as next date of hearing.
Muhammad Khan Toor, Minister for Population Welfare (PB-16) appeared in person and provided his original documents starting from middle to BA. The Committee obtained a photocopy of all his relevant documents and provided to the representative of Higher Education Commission for further verification. The case was adjourned with date in office.
Rustam Khan Padhiar Advocate appeared on behalf of Saima Aziz (PP-Reserve) and pleaded that he has already submitted her education documents and if the Committee is not satisfied of its genuineness, it may kindly be re-verified. The Committee decided to verify her documents and fixed October 25, 2010 as next date of hearing.
The following candidates failed to appear before the Committee and the Committee unanimously decided to give them final date as mentioned against their names through media failing which their cases will be closed and placed before the Chief Election Commissioner for final orders in the light of Supreme Court directions: Hayatullah Khan Tareen (NA-155), October 25, 2010; Ghulam Dastagir Rajar (NA-235), October 25, 2010; Muhammad Safdar Gill (PP-274), October 21, 2010; Mazhar Hayat (NA-138), October 25, 2010; Shumaila Rana (PP-Reserve), October 21, 2010; Seemal Kamran (PP-Reserve), October 21, 2010; Ms Farah Deeba (PP-Reserve), October 21, 2010; and Majida Zadi (PP-Reserve), October 21, 2010.-PR