LAHORE: The Supreme Court on Monday allowed time to MNA Jamshed Dasti to engage counsel to oppose a government appeal for restoration of his conviction in a fake degree case.

Mr Dasti was convicted and sentenced to three-year jail term by a district sessions judge of Muzaffargarh on April 4, 2013, with a fine of Rs5,000. He was also held disqualified for contesting elections.

However, the Lahore High Court, Multan Bench, had suspended the sentence and ordered his release. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had filed an appeal in the apex court against the high court decision and sought restoration of the sentence handed down to Mr Dasti.

The ECP said the trial court convicted Mr Dasti after charges of possessing fake degree were established against him. It said a person guilty of fraud did not deserve any concession, and asked the court to set aside the high court order and restore the sentence.

During the Monday’s hearing, Jamshed Dasti appeared before the court and sought time to engage a counsel.

The apex court’s full bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali accepted the request and adjourned hearing.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2016