ISLAMABAD: A special eight-member parliamentary committee headed by Parliamentary Affairs and Law Minister Farooq H. Naek held a meeting the Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim on Thursday to discuss the issue of the verification of the academic credential of lawmakers, DawnNews reported.

The meeting was also attended by the chairperson of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Javaid R. Leghari.

During the meeting the Election Commission withdrew its letter written to parliamentarians regarding submission of their degrees, according to sources.

Federal Law Minister Farooq H Naek on Thursday said that the aspiring candidates would have to submit their original degrees along with nomination papers in the upcoming general elections.

Talking to media after having meeting with ECP, Law minister said that Parliamentary Committee negotiations with Chief Election Commissioner on the issue of fake degrees of Parliamentarians were successful.

Law minister said that the election commission would forward degree of candidates to Higher Education Commission for verification and HEC would inform about the status of degree either it's fake or original.

The Election Commission would take action against the candidate if his or her degree would be found fake, he added.

Law minister said that it is the responsibility of university to verify the degrees of candidates as soon as possible on the request of HEC.

In reply to a question, Naek said that Pakistan People's Party has full confidence on Chief Election Commissioner including other four members adding that the Government would not allow anyone to postpone elections and it would be held on time.

Earlier on Feb 20 the Federal Law Minister had said that said the ECP should withdraw the letter written to parliamentarians regarding submission of their degrees.