MUZAFFARABAD, Nov 12: A leader of an opposition party here on Friday submitted what he called a ‘reference’ in the Legislative Assembly secretariat, seeking recovery of financial benefits from a ruling Muslim Conference (MC) lawmaker who lost his membership for possessing a fake degree.

Khawaja Atif Bashir, media adviser of Peoples Muslim League (PML), pointed out in the ‘reference’ that Chaudhry Rukhsar Ahmed committed forgery and fraud by contesting election on fake academic certificates.

Mr Ahmed contested the July 2006 election from LA 4, Mirpur IV, on the ticket of Muslim Conference. Soon after the election, his eligibility was challenged by his rival, Chaudhry Arshad of PML, in an election tribunal.

But the tribunal took four years to unseat Mr Ahmed, who challenged the decision in the Azad Kashmir Supreme Court, which initially granted him interim relief but later upheld the tribunal’s decision.

“Contesting election on a fake academic certificate and later claiming salary and other financial benefits as MLA and cabinet member amounts to commission of a criminal offence on the part of Chaudhry Rukhsar Ahmed for which he must be held accountable,” Mr Bashir said in the reference he handed over to LA Secretary Syed Ashiq Hussain Shah in his chamber.

He added that Mr Ahmed has not only violated the sanctity of the state’s most august representative forum but also defrauded taxpayers of million of rupees in cash and kind since his election.

The reference is addressed to Speaker Chaudhry Anwaarul Haq, who apparently belongs to the PML but was elevated to this office after reaching an understanding with Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan.

Mr Bashir asked the speaker “to take to task all such elements who misused the prestigious office of MLA by any means. I request you to refer this case to the concerned authorities for recovery of all financial benefits from Mr Ahmed under the relevant recovery laws.”