PESHAWAR, May 8: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday disposed of a writ petition pending for almost five years against former provincial senior minister Rahimdad Khan, requesting to debar him from holding public office for he possessed a bogus degree.

A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan and Justice Ms Musarrat Hilali observed that as the respondent (Rahimdad) had no longer been a member of the provincial assembly, the request made by the petitioner could not be entertained. The petition was filed by one Farman Khattak, a voter in PK-27 Mardan-V, after 2008 general elections, challenging the election of Rahimdad on the grounds that as he got a graduation degree of Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, through manipulation and was not a graduate, the court may disqualify him from holding the office of MPA.

Advocate Aamir Jawed appeared for the petitioner and contended that the petition was filed five years ago, but it could not be decided and the respondent (Rahimdad) remained an MPA and occupied the office of senior minister on the basis of bogus degree.

The bench observed that the court might not be solely held responsible for delay in disposal of this case as on several occasions hearing had to be adjourned on the request of the lawyers of both the sides.

The bench also disposed of a writ petition filed by Mr Rahimdad. He had challenged an order of the election tribunal for submission of the report of an inquiry conducted by the Gomal University on the request of Higher Education Commission.

Advocate Abdul Lateef Afridi, appearing for a losing candidate Shahid Khan Khattak, stated that it was interesting to note that Rahimdad had done his masters in arts in 1997 whereas he did his graduation in 2005.