KARACHI, Nov 28: Sindh Election Tribunal, headed by Justice Mushir Alam of Sindh High Court, on Monday dismissed election petition filed by Ghulam Abbas Panjwani of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, challenging the graduation degree of ex-minister for information technology and City Nazim Mustafa Kamal.

The MMA candidate challenged the result of PS-117 Karachi, besides the graduation degree of the respondent belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

The petitioner alleged that respondent’s degree, obtained from foreign university was a diploma certificate which was not recognized by the University Grant Commission and despite rejection of his nomination papers from two constituencies PS-115 and PS-119 by returning officers as well as the Election Tribunal of High Court, his papers were illegally accepted from PS-117. The court was prayed to disqualify the respondent.

The respondent pleaded the court to dismiss the petition as misconceived because the HEC had recognized his degree equivalent to BBA. The order on petition was reserved on April 20, 2005.

The Election Commission of Pakistan announced election in PS-117 on Dec 10, 2005 following the resignation by Mustafa Kamal from MPA seat.—PPI