MNA Yaqoob Bizenjo's degree declared fake

QUETTA-Degree of Yaqoob Bizenjo, MNA from Balochistan has been declared fake, reported a private TV Channel on Tuesday. Yaqoob Bizenjo had contested elections for the first time in 2008 and was elected MNA from NA-272 comprising Kech and Gwadar districts of Balochistan. He contested elections on the ticket of Balochistan National Party (Awami), however, he distanced himself from the party after winning the elections. He had defeated former Federal Minister for Education Zubeda Jalal from this seat. Yaqoob Bizenjo had submitted a Graduation degree from University of Karachi with his nomination papers for contesting the elections. Zubeda Jalal had challenged his election from this seat. Besides raising other objections Zubeda Jalal had also challenged his Graduation degree from the University of Karachi. The election petition against him still is pending, however, Karachi University had declared his degree as fake during the scrutiny of degrees that were sent by Higher Education Commission (HEC) under the light of orders of the Supreme Court. He is first MNA whose degree has been declared fake from Balochistan so far. Meanwhile, sources of University of Balochistan told this scribe that they had received around 60 degrees for scrutiny submitted by the candidates who had contested 2008 elections. They said a committee has been constituted for scrutiny of these degrees. Some sources said that degrees of more than 25 Parliamentarians from Balochistan including Senators, MNAs and MPAs were fake or doubtful. Pillion-riding banned The Home Department had extended ban on pillion riding in province for another 60 days under Section 144. According to an official hand-out a ban has also been placed on display of arms for the same period. The sources said that this measure has been taken to check the growing incidents of target killings as motorbikes are being used for the incidents of target killings in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan.