The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday summoned 27 former federal and provincial lawmakers on April 5 over the fake degrees issue, Secretary ECP Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan said on Wednesday. A meeting of ECP was held with Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin Ebrahim in the chair to review the progress on preparedness for elections, particularly the issue of fake degrees.
After the meeting, the Secretary, briefing the media about the decisions taken by ECP, said the Commission summoned a total 27 lawmakers who allegedly had fake degrees. As, three of them expired, the ECP summoned remaining 24 former lawmakers to investigate their cases, he added. He said those cases were disposed of after court hearing but the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) directed the Commission to reopen all the 27 cases of fake degrees. "We have sent notices to 24 former lawmakers to appear before the commission," he said.
He further clarified that Higher Education Commission (HEC) forwarded 69 cases of fake degree holders to ECP for consideration. However, in around 250 cases, HEC did not receive SSC and HSSC (certificates). Subsequently, the ECP dispatched letters to 250 former lawmakers to submit their certificates. "The Commission has been writing since 2010 to secretaries National Assembly, Senate, Provincial Assemblies and parliamentarians to verify their educational degrees. The Commission and HEC both have desks to deal with verification of degrees cases which is working round the clock and continue till April 5," he said.
Responding to a question about the right to franchise to overseas Pakistanis, the Secretary said, following the directives of SC, Nadra has developed software, which would be made available to overseas Pakistani to cast their votes. The Nadra gave presentation to SC on the software which the Court hailed. On the directives of SC, Nadra briefed the ECP on the software. Members' of the Commission were of the views that Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) must be involved in this exercise as he was involved during the hearing of SC. "Now, the commission would take up the matter on Tuesday," he said.
The Commission in its meeting on Wednesday decided to incorporate a 'none of the above' box in ballot papers for voters who do not want to cast their vote for any candidate in their constituency. The meeting of the Commission was held with CEC Fakhruddin G Ebrahim in the chair. Secretary Ishtiaque Ahmed said the Commission would make a request to the Prime Minister to have an ordinance issued for inclusion of 'none of the above' box the in ballot papers for the upcoming elections. He said the addition was being made on the demand of political parties.
The Commission also decided to post names of 189 former parliamentarians with unverified degrees on its website and sensitive polling station would be monitored via satellite, besides deploying military. Secretary ECP said under the constitution, only President had the authority to appoint governors in the provinces on the advice of PM. The ECP had no role in it, he added. The ECP has stepped up its action against those lawmakers who were involved in the fake degree issue after the Supreme Court of Pakistan directed the Commission to resolve the cases within two days.
According to details, the lawmakers who were served summons include; Mir Nadir Magsi, Mir Israrullah Zehri, Seemal Kamran, Gul Muhammad Lot, Mir Tariq Magsi, Sardar Mohammad Umar Gorgage, Shumaila Rana, Samina Khawar Hayat, Wasim Afzal Gondal, Saeed Ameer Ali Shah, Ghulam Sarwar Siyal, Dr Israr Hussain Asif, Mukesh Kumar Chawla, Pitambar Sehwani, Colonel Shujaat Ahmed (Retd) and Rehan Yahya Baloch.
Moreover, a local court issued warrants for the arrest of former Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader from Bahawalpur, Amir Yar Waran, over possession of fake degree. Similarly a local court in Quetta summoned Ali Madad Jattak for holding a fake degree. Syed Salman Mohsin, a former MNA from Pakpattan belonging to the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) got his candidature papers rejected by ECP over possession of fake degree. The ECP received 17,000 nomination papers, out of total 12,000 were forwarded to ROs for final decision.