April 23, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 16, 1429

PESHAWAR, April 22: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday admitted a writ petition against NWFP Senior Minister Rahimdad Khan, alleging that he had produced a forged graduation degree with his nomination papers.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Hamid Farooq Durrani and Justice Mussadiq Hussain Gillani put on notice the respondents including Rahimdad and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The bench observed that the points raised by the petitioner needed consideration. The petition is filed by a voter Farman Ali, hailing from PF-27, Mardan-V, from where the minister got elected during the general election.

Advocate Qazi Mohammad Anwer appeared for the petitioner and argued that the respondent was not a graduate and had allegedly produced a forged graduation degree while submitting his nomination papers. He argued that under the Conduct of General Elections Order 2002 and the Representation of Peoples Act, a candidate was not qualified to contest the general election if s/he was not a graduate.