Sources in the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) told The News that the issue of punishing the fake degree holders appeared to be over without reaching its logical conclusion contrary to the Supreme Court directives on this count. The HEC is still awaiting provision of credible educational papers from well over 400 lawmakers.
They came out with two major reasons for this sorry state of affairs: the HEC going to the provinces under the 18th Amendment, non-cooperation from influential politicians as well as respective district administrations.
The ECP has closed down 22 cases out of 60 referred to it by the HEC so far and these were sent to the concerned DPOs. However, afterwards, there has been no progress from their side on other cases. Of remaining 38 cases, 16 are with the courts, whereas the cases of 08 MPs were cleared, as they had contested the poll after the apex court doing away with the graduation degree condition in 2008.
On its part, the HEC could refer 60 cases to the ECP for verification and referring these to the police for necessary action as per the nature of case. However, out of 22 referred cases, the police showed least interest in taking legal action accordingly.
An official document reveals that the police, perhaps under the influence of politicians could register FIRs against just nine fake degree holders while owing to diverse reasons, no progress could be made in other 13 cases.
The case of Abdul Samad Akhunzada, MPA from PB-7 was sent to the concerned DPO on February 26 this year and his appeal was pending before the Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd) Hamid Ali Mirza. Akhunzada, who was elected on MMA ticket, is also Minister for Forest and Wildlife Balochistan.
Another former provincial minister Balochistan Ali Madad Jattak’s case was referred to the DPO on December 20, 2010 while it took the police a fortnight to register an FIR against him. There are chances, Jattak may again be inducted in Chief Minister Muhammad Aslam Raisani’s government as minister.
The ECP awaits progress from the concerned DPO to whom, the case of Afshan Farooq (PP-Reserved Seat) MPA was sent on January 17, 2011. The case of Amir Yar Waran holding a fake degree was sent to DPO on December 20 last year while the FIR was registered on January 04, 2011. He was ex-MNA from NA-184.
The case of Farah Deeba, who is daughter of late ache comedian Rangeela, was referred to the DPO on December 13 last year, but the chief election commissioner still awaits response from the concerned quarters in this connection. She had made her way to the Punjab assembly on a reserved seat. The appeal of ex-MNA from NA-235 (Sanghar) Ghulam Dastagir Rajar is pending before the Chief Election Commissioner. His case was sent to the DPO on February 26 this year.
An FIR was registered against Haji Nasir Mehmood (ex-MPA, PP-11) on January 13 this year, whereas his case was referred to DPO on January 03, 2011. Another ex-MNA (Independent) from NA-155 Hayatullah Khan Tareen on February 26 this year but progress is still awaited in this connection. An appeal by Khalifa Abdul Qayyum (MPA PK-64, DI Khan as an independent candidate) is pending with the Chief Election Commissioner. His case was referred to the DPO on February 26 this year.
The case of Mir Badshah Qaisrani was sent to the DPO on December 23 last year and any headway regarding the legal proceedings is still awaited by the Election Commission. Qaisrani was elected from PP-240.
Any progress is also awaited in the case of Mudassar Qayyum Nehra, an ex-MNA from NA-100 as an independent candidate, which was referred to DPO on February 26 this year. Likewise, an appeal by Muhammad Khan Toor, MPA (PB-16) is pending with the Chief Election Commissioner, whereas his case was sent to the DPO on December 23 last year.
The case of Muhammad Rizwan Gill, ex-MPA from PP-34 was sent to the DPO on December 15 last year and an FIR was registered against him January 08 this year.
Nasim Nasir Khawaja, MPA (PP-Reserved) Seat, his case was sent to DPO on January 13, 2011 and an FIR registered against him on February 26 this year. Similarly, an appeal by Raja Ijaz Ahmed is pending with the CEC, though his case was sent to DPO on January 05, 2011. He was elected an independent MPA from PP-209.
Any progress is awaited in the case of Safina Saima Khar that was sent to DPO on January 04 this year. She was made an MPA on a reserved seat in Punjab.
The case of Saima Aziz was referred to DPO on January 03 this year and any headway in the case is awaited. She was also an MPA on a reserved seat from Punjab.
MPA (PK-34) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Ali’s case was sent to DPO on January 03 this year and an FIR registered against him on January 20.
Shaukat Aziz Bhatti was elected MPA (PP-4). His case sent to DPO on December 21 last year and an FIR registered on December 30, 2010.
Any progress is awaited in the case of Syed M. Salman Mohsin, MNA (NA-165). His case was sent to DPO on December 23 last year.
An FIR was registered against ex-federal minister and MPA (PB-31) Yar Muhammad Rind on February 26 this year.
The case of Zahoor Hussain Khosa, an ex-MPA (PB-26) was sent to DPO on December 15 last year and an FIR registered on January 19 this year.
