LAHORE, Nov 18: The Lahore High Court on Friday released on bail a former PML-N MPA from Sargodha, Rizwan Gill, who was arrested on charges of committing fraud.

An LHC election tribunal had disqualified Rizwan Gill after the Punjab University had declared his BA degree fake. The MPA challenged the order before the Supreme Court but did not get a favourable decision.

The SC had urged the Election Commission to initiate criminal proceedings against all such fake degree holders. Resultantly Sargodha police registered a case and arrested Gill.

The accused, through his counsel, pleaded that he had been charged under Section 420 of PPC and Section 82 of the People’s Representative Act which did not fall under prohibitory clause of Section 497 of CrPC. Therefore, he requested the court to release him on bail subject to furnishing of bail bonds worth Rs1 million.

The court observed that the trial court should conduct a free and fair trial in the light of findings made by the LHC and the SC in such cases. — Staff Reporter