QUETTA: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Wednesday disqualified Balochistan Minister for Industries Mohammad Khan Toor Utmankhail for possessing a fake degree.

Mr Utmankhail was elected a member of the Balochistan Assembly from PB-4 Loralai in the 2018 general elections on a ticket of the Balochistan Awami Party.

The ECP de-seated the minister after the allegation of submitting a fake degree along with his nomination papers was proved against him.

After hearing the ECP verdict, Mr Utmankhail said that he would challenge it in the Balochistan High Court. He said the high court had allowed him to take part in the 2018 elections, adding that the fake degree case was pending before a sessions court.

“I will defend my right in the court,” he said, adding that he would file an appeal against the ECP verdict in the BHC as soon as possible after consulting his lawyers.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2019