Provincial minister’s degree challenged

The Baloch Hal News

QUETTA: Provincial President of National Party (NP), Dr. Yasin Baloch, has filed a constitutional petition in Balochistan High Court against the Provincial Minister for Industries & Commerce, Syed Ehsan Shah, claiming that he is holding a fake academic degree thus not qualified to become a member of the Balochistan Assembly.

Addressing a news conference at Party Secretariat here on Tuesday, he accused the Provincial Minister of violating the Constitution of Pakistan and its election rule by obtaining and submitting fake degree in order to contest the general election, 2008.

“We have evidence that Minister submitted a fake degree to the Election Commission contesting general election 2008,” he said adding that Syed Ehsan Shah had been securing Balochistan Assembly’s representation in constituency of PB-48 Kech district since 1997.  He had served as Finance Minister during which he allegedly misused his official position and embezzled funds. The case is still on the record of National Accountability Bureau (NAB).” Dr Yasin Baloch told journalists in graphic details.

“I hope that independent judiciary would play its due role providing justice to the people of the constituency who are suffering a lot,” said Yasin added. “A panel had been constituted under the chair of prominent lawyers Kamaran Murtaza that will fight our case in Balochistan High Court.” He said that the BHC would hear the case on May 27, 2010.

It may be recalled that there was a straight fight between Dr Yasin Baloch and Syed Ehsan Shah for the Provincial Assembly seat from Kech Valley in 2002. During the first unofficial count, Dr Yasin Baloch was declared elected. Later on Syed Ehsan Shah filed an application demanding a recount of the votes polled during which Syed Ehsan Shah was declared elected from that constituency. In 2008 elections, Syed Ehsan Shah defeated Sheh Zafar, a senior PPP leader, from the same constituency. Later on, he became Minister for Industries for the third time.