ISLAMABAD, July 16: The deadline for sending the references to the Election Commission for the disqualification of 28 MMA MNAs and eight senators, passed quietly on Wednesday as neither the Speaker National Assembly, nor the Chairman Senate forwarded the references to the EC.

Maulvi Iqbal Haider, the petitioner, had sent references to the speaker and the chairman on the grounds that these persons were not qualified to become members of parliament as their educational qualification was not equal to the BA degree.

According to the Constitution, as amended by the LFO, the speaker and chairman have to forward the disqualification references to the EC within in period of one month.

An official of the National Assembly told Dawn that the question of MMA MNAs’ degree was sub judice, and till the decision of the Supreme Court on the petition, the speaker would not send those to the Election Commission.

The official said the office of the speaker was not a post office, and the speaker had to apply his mind to ensure that the reference was not frivolous.

Maulvi Iqbal Haider said that he went to the National Assembly on Wednesday but no official was willing to see him. He alleged that the NA speaker and the chairman Senate had violated the Constitution, and he would move the superior courts for their disqualification.