Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali on Friday reiterated to serve notice on Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) despite clarification by the commission for declaring his educational credentials doubtful.
In an informal chat with a group of reporters here at his chamber in the Parliament House, the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly said that he had been contacted by Secretary ECP to clarify that its was the fault of Higher Education Commission (HEC) due to which his certificates were declared doubtful. But he said that he was preparing the notice to be served on the ECP.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on January 12 had expressed doubts over the genuineness of the educational certificates/degrees of around 298 parliamentarians for their failure to provide the commission the copies of their matriculation and intermediate certificates despite reminders. Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan name was also among the list that included Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Federal Law Minister Dr Babar Awan and Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira.
"This is tantamount to provide safe way to the fake degree holders and to mix them with those having genuine degrees," he said, adding that this is not the way that an ECP registrar shall write to a parliamentarian to send his educational credentials. He said that the parliamentarians should be given due respect.
To a question regarding appointment of Latif Khosa as Governor Punjab, Nisar refused to comment, saying that it is discretionary power of the Prime Minister so he used it. However, he added that Mr. Khosa had given positive statements after his appointment as governor, which indicates that things will move in positive direction.
Talking about the Prime Minister's committee for taking forward the PML-N agenda, he said that they want progress on the agenda despite reservations on some members of the committee formed by the Premier. He added that they would withdraw their reservations if progress was made on the agenda. However, he warned the government that PML-N would react severely if progress was not made on the agenda within the prescribed timeframe of 45 days.
To a question regarding memorandum of understanding between Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and Turkish Airways, Chaudhry Nisar said that the Public Accounts Committee, which he said was moving in the right direction, has summoned managing director PIA to brief the committee on the selling of US and European routes to Turkish Airways. Regarding increase in the Pakistan Railways' fares, he said that it seemed the government did not learn lesson from past mistakes.