Court summons KPK sports minister in fake degree case

nation

Upon the complaint lodged by the regional Election Commission, the district and sessions court has summoned the KPK Minister for Sports and Tourism Syed Aqil Shah in fake degree case on October 11, 2012.

The petitioner stated that Shah contested election for the seat of provincial assembly from constituency PF-4 Peshawar in 2008. He said that the accused filed his nomination papers before the returning officer declaring on oath therein that he was a graduate and that he was qualified under Article 62 and was not subject to any disqualification provided under Article 63 of the Constitution to become a candidate for the seat of provincial assembly.

diploma fraud

The EC said that bachelor degree of the accused issued by Punjab University on October 15, 2002, was inspected by Higher Education Commission (HEC) and was found fake on August 5, 2010. He added that in support, HEC supplied a copy of a letter of the university stating therein that no record of the accused existed there.

The petitioner said that the accused appeared before a nominated officer of Election Commission on November 29, 2010, and submitted another copy of BA degree from Punjab University, attested on its back by HEC. It was also sent to HEC for verification but HEC reported that it was the same degree, which was already declared bogus, he added.

Thereafter, he stated, the accused produced before the nominated officer a copy of transcript of BA marks sheet issued on March 3, 2007 by Newports Institute of Communication and Economics, Karachi. He also submitted an affidavit wherein he disowned the BA degree from Punjab University and claimed that he had attached copy of the said marks sheet with his nomination paper.

The complainant added that the said copy was also sent to HEC for verification through Newports, but it said that the marks sheet was not issued by it.

Meanwhile, in September 2011 the accused produced a BBA degree issued by American International College Lahore, which was sent to HEC for verification. According to HEC, the said institute was non-chartered and the degree issued by it was not recognized by HEC.

Now the district and sessions court Peshawar Shaiber Khan has summoned provincial Minister for Sports and Tourism to appear before the court of sessions judge on October 11, 2012.

 This article originally appeared on nation