August 12, 2006	Saturday	Rajab 16, 1427

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MUZAFFARABAD, Aug 11: A UK-based certificate awarding authority has disowned qualification certificates attributed to it by a Muslim Conference lawmaker from Azad Jammu Kashmir’s southern Mirpur district, Dawn has learnt.

The alleged forgery had come to fore much before the July 11 election but due to procedural complications, Chaudhry Rukhsar Ahmad was able to contest the polls from LA-4, Mirpur-IV, against Chaudhry Arshad of the People’s Muslim League.

Mr Arshad had challenged the qualification certificates submitted by Mr Ahmad with his nomination papers before the returning officer on June 8. However, the returning officer had rejected his objection and Mr Arshad had filed an appeal against the decision before Chief Election Commissioner Justice Riaz Akhtar Chaudhry.

According to an amendment to the AJK Legislative Assembly Election Ordinance, 2001, candidates must possess minimum qualification of matriculation or equivalent in other education systems.