Muzaffargarh (Web Desk): A district and sessions court in Multan has handed down a cumulative sentence of seven years to former Member of National Assembly (MNA) and Awami Raj Party Chairman Jamshed Dasti in a fake degree case.
The court, while pronouncing its judgment, awarded him seven years’ imprisonment under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution, along with further terms of incarceration under Sections 420, pertaining to deceit, and 471, relating to the use of forged documents, among other provisions. Out of the total term, ten years have been declared bailable.
This judicial pronouncement follows nearly two months after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had disqualified Dasti on account of falsified educational credentials.
In its order, the three-member bench of the Commission had directed that his parliamentary seat be vacated, observing that the respondent had submitted misstatements and false declarations, acts that constitute corrupt practices within the meaning of Sections 167 and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017, attracting penal consequences under Section 174.
Earlier in May, the ECP had resolved to obtain authentication of Dasti’s academic documents from the Karachi Education Board.
The politician, who secured his position in the National Assembly from Constituency NA-175 Muzaffargarh in the previous general elections, was simultaneously facing proceedings under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution as well as Sections 4, 9 and 137 of the Elections Act, 2017.
The case was instituted through petitions filed by Ameer Akbar, Zulfiqar Dogar and Sardar Faizul Hassan.