Islamabad – The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has disqualified Member of the National Assembly Jamshed Dasti for submitting a fake academic degree, marking a significant development in a case that had lingered since the 2024 general elections.
A three-member ECP bench comprising Nisar Ahmad Durrani, Shah Mohammad Jatoi, and Justice (Retd) Ikram Ullah Khan announced the verdict on Tuesday. The decision came in response to a reference filed by the Speaker of the National Assembly, along with two separate petitions challenging Dasti’s eligibility.
The ECP found that Dasti had provided a forged FA (intermediate) certificate during his nomination process for NA-175 Muzaffargarh, a seat he won as an independent candidate backed by PTI in the last general election.
The commission ruled that Dasti committed violations under Sections 167, 173, and 174 of the Elections Act, 2017, which deal with corrupt practices and misrepresentation. The ECP also directed authorities to initiate legal proceedings against him under Section 190(2) and other relevant laws.
The verdict further declared his National Assembly seat vacant with immediate effect.
Earlier, the ECP had sent Dasti’s academic documents to relevant boards for verification. While his matriculation certificate from the Karachi board was confirmed as genuine, the FA and BA degrees he submitted—allegedly from Bahawalpur University—were proven to be fraudulent.
This is not the first time Dasti has faced scrutiny over his educational credentials. However, the current ruling carries formal disqualification, removing him from parliamentary office and potentially triggering a by-election in NA-175.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.