LAHORE -The Lahore High Court on Friday extended till July 5th, the interim bail granted to former Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Ghulam Sarwar facing charges of securing graduation degree on the basis of fake intermediate certificate.
Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi also ordered the Chairman of Technical Board to appear with the record relating to the degree of ex-Federal Minister on next date of hearing.
The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) had lodged a case against Ghulam Sarwar for obtaining a fake degree of FA to appear in BA examination to meet the graduation condition in general elections of 2008.
It was alleged that Ghulam Sarwar son of Muhammad Hayat Khan obtained duplicate diploma originally issued to another candidate of namesake but his father’s name was Abdul Hameed Khan.
Ghulam Sarwar used the duplicate diploma for appearing in graduation examinations and obtained BA degree eventually.
The ACE after investigation had lodged a case against accused including Ghulam Sarwar, former Chairman of Punjab Board of Technical Education (PBTE), its Secretary and two other officials for issuing the duplicate diploma unlawfully.
Petitioner’s counsel argued that the case registered by the ACE was a result of political victimisation and the petitioner had nothing to do with the allegations.
He requested to confirm the interim bail earlier granted to his client.
Ghulam Sarwar’s counsel in reply said that the ex-Minister had a valid degree but the university was trying to cancel it without any legal justification. He said the case lodged by the ACE was politically motivated.
Prosecutor general Punjab Sadaqat Ali Khan opposed the bail plea and said that the crime committed by the former Minister had been established.