The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday disqualified National Assembly Member Jamshed Dasti after determining that he submitted a fake academic degree.
The decision followed the approval of two petitions, including one filed by the National Assembly Speaker, challenging Dasti’s eligibility under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution and Sections 4, 9, and 137 of the Elections Act, 2017. Petitioners Ameer Akbar, Zulfiqar Dogar, and Sardar Faizul Hassan brought the case forward.
Dasti, who represents NA-175 Muzaffargarh, had earlier claimed to hold an FA (Intermediate) qualification. However, during hearings led by a three-member ECP bench chaired by Member Sindh Nisar Durrani, the petitioners alleged that even his matriculation (secondary school) credentials were forged.
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The ECP had previously asked for verification of Dasti’s certificates from the Karachi Education Board. The petitioner’s counsel informed the commission that Bahawalpur University had declared Dasti’s BA and FA degrees as fake, while his matriculation claim from Bahawalpur Board was also found to be invalid.
In response to these findings, Dasti submitted a matriculation certificate from the Karachi Board. However, the ECP concluded that the inconsistencies in his academic records were grounds for disqualification.