LAHORE, Nov 3: PML MPA Shahid Qayyum on Wednesday got his statement recorded before an election tribunal of the Lahore High Court, contending that he was a graduate and possessed a bonafide BA degree issued to him by the Punjab University.

The MPA from Kasur (PP-181) is facing charges of presenting a bogus BA degree to the returning officer for Oct 2002 elections levelled in an election petition filed by his close losing rival Sheikh Alauddin.

The MPA submitted before the tribunal the original degree and other material evidence to deny the allegation that the degree was issued to a person from Kharian who was the his (MPA's) namesake and his father was also the namesake of the MPA's father.

Shahid Qayyum stated that such probabilities could only be fancied and could hardly match the ground realities. The court will next examine officials of the Punjab University's controller of examinations to ascertain the veracity of the claim.

The court adjourned the hearing of the election petition till Nov 23.