KARACHI, Oct 1: The returning officer of NA-239 from where Mian Ijaz Shafi of PML(N) had filed nominations, on Tuesday solicited the Election Commission’s indulgence on the question of genuineness of his Calcutta University degree.

On Sept 23, Islam Hussain, advocate, who had challenged the degree of Mr Shafi, had appealed to the Sindh High Court to recall its order allowing Mr Shafi to contest the elections because according to the Calcutta University, it had conducted no such examinations in the concerned years.

Regarding Mr Hussain’s request for verification of Mr Ejaz Shafi’s certificates of Intermediate (Arts) and Bachelor of Arts Examinations 1964 and 1966 respectively, the Controller of Examination, Mr O.S. Adhikari, had replied that “on verification of official records, it was revealed that no such examinations were conducted by the university in the concerned years. Therefore, the question of genuineness of those certificates does not arise at all. In other words, the said certificates are all fake.”

Mian Mohsin Raza, RO, in his order maintained that in compliance of the order of the Chief Election Commissioner (dated Sept 29), Mr Shafi and Islam Hussain were put on notice. But the private secretary of Mian Ejaz Shafi refused to receive the notice. However, on Tuesday his house servant, namely Ghulam Qasim received notice, but did not appear for compliance purpose.

Mr Islam Hussain, advocate, appeared and produced a letter (dated Sept 27) from the Indian High Commission, with a letter dated Sept 9 from Controller of Examination, University of Calcutta.

The RO observed that perusal of the said letter of the controller revealed that they have declared the certificate as fake.

However, the R.O. held that after passing the order of the High Court of Sept 20, on the basis of the letter of Sept 2, it is necessary that the documents are to be verified through the Election Commission of Pakistan, instead of an opposite party. In the above circumstances, the RO held that further orders are solicited specifically in view of the fact that Mian Ejaz Shafi is not appearing intentionally before him and compliance of the order the High Court is also necessary and mandatory.

It may be pointed out that Mian Mohsin Raza, RO-239 had in his order (dated Sept 2) held that “under the circumstances the nomination form as candidate of NA-239, namely Mr Ejaz Shafi has been accepted subject to verification of his degree issued by the Calcutta University, India. It is, therefore, requested that the matter may be taken up for verification of the said degree through the High Commission of Pakistan in India or by any other mode.

In case the said degree is found forged, he will be deemed to be disqualified to contest the General Elections 2002.”