LAHORE – The Lahore High Court disqualified a PML-N Member of Punjab Assembly (MPA) Iftikhar Ahmad on presenting a fake degree, on Tuesday.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial had reserved the verdict on a petition moved by loosing candidate of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Iqbal Ahmad from PP-81, a constituency of Jhang.
The petitioner had submitted that the respondent MPA had obtained a fake degree form Azad and Jammu Kashmir University for 2008 general elections. He further said that the MPA in this regard did not fulfill the criteria of Article 62 and 63 of the constitution.
He requested the court to disqualify the MPA Iftikhar Ahmad and direct the election commission of Pakistan to take action against him.
The counsel of the MPA denied the allegations of fake degree and requested the court to dismiss the petition.
The chief justice, after hearing the arguments of all sides disqualified MPA Iftikhar Ahmad on Tuesday.
Challenged: The Lahore High Court Tuesday issued notice to attorney general on a petition moved by a disqualified MPA Iqbal Langrial challenging his permanent ineligibility from contesting elections.
He was disqualified from the assembly membership over the charges of using the fake degree in the general elections.
In the petition, Iqbal submitted he was disqualified by a three-member election tribunal of LHC on fake degree grounds. The tribunal had put a permanent ban on him on contesting elections, he submitted.
The petitioner contended a permanent implementation of Article 62 and 63 on any citizens was unconstitutional. The restraining any person from contesting elections under the said decision was against democratic norms, he added.
He requested the court to set aside the tribunal’s judgment and allow him to participate in upcoming general elections.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard initial arguments and issued notice to attorney general for his assistance on the matter.
The court put off the hearing till April 10.
verdict reserved: The LHC also reserved verdict on a petition seeking disqualification of PML-N MNA Javed Latif for using fake degree to contest elections in 2008.
Justice Muhammad Khalid Mahmood Khan had on March 11 reserved the verdict, however, the court heard fresh arguments when the petitioner’s counsel pointed out the MNA had not yet submitted the reply.
On Tuesday, Advocate Noshab A Khan pointed out before the court that the MNA had submitted the reply and the same should be examined before the decision of the plea.
The court made the reply part of the court record. The MNA opposed the allegations of fake degree and requested the court to dismiss the petition.
The judge heard fresh arguments and again reserved the judgment.