RAWALPINDI, Jan 28: Former Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Monday filed an application with returning officer for NA-55, Rawalpindi-VI seeking copies of documents filed by his rival candidate of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Moha-mmad Hanif Abbasi.

The RO Additional and District Sessions Judge (ASJ) Shaukat Mehmood in this regard asked both the candidates from the constituency to appear before him on January 30.

Though no reason for seeking the copies of the documents was mentioned in the application, the PML candidate talking to Dawn said he came to know that the graduation degree of Hanif Abbasi was not genuine and that he got it confirmed through sources.

He said though the date of filing any objection had expired but he wanted to obtain the attested copy of his degree.

“Once we have an attested copy of the forged document a criminal case can be registered against the PML candidate,” he added.

Saeed Yousaf Khan, a high court advocate, told Dawn that the time for any legal remedy had lapsed but if a candidate found an irregularity with the conduct of his opponent, he could bring it to the notice of Election Commissioner, who could take sou motu action.

At this stage the EC could verify the documents of the candidates but could not disqualify him. He said the aggrieved candidate could file a writ petition in a constitutional court that had the power to disqualify a candidate. Copy of the documents submitted with the returning officers could be obtained as according to law these are public documents, he added.

Hanif Abbasi won NA 55 seat on MMA ticket against Sheikh Rashid Shafique, the nephew of Sheikh Rasheed in 2002 by-elections.