IHC disqualifies PML-N's MPA over bogus degree.

ISLAMABAD -- The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday disqualified a member of the Punjab Assembly from Bahawalnagar, Kashif Mahmood, for holding a bogus degree of the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). Mr Mahmood belongs to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Justice Aamer Farooq of the IHC announced the verdict that was reserved on Nov 5.

The petition was filed by Abdul Ghaffar, a resident of Bahawalnagar district. The petition cited the provincial assembly's secretary, Punjab Assembly's speaker, MPA Mahmood and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as respondents.

Earlier, ECP's counsel Sanaullah Zahid had suggested to the IHC that the educational credentials of the lawmaker should be verified from the university.

In its report, the university states: 'The university has thoroughly checked the academic record of Mr Kashif Mahmood, son of Khalid Mahmood, from admission, registration, examination and accounts branches, whether he is supposed to be student of this university in the discipline of Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) or otherwise.'

The report further states: 'The record held in the university reveals that Mr Kashif Mahmood, son of Khalid Mahmood, has neither been student of Al-Khair University Bhimber (AJK) nor graduated in the course of Bachelor of Business Administration.'

It concluded: 'That the claim of Respondent No. 4 [MPA Mahmood] that his Detail Marks Certificate (DMC) was issued under Serial No. 1053 and...