Ex-MNA Jamshed Dasti Sentenced to 7 Years in Fake Degree Case

Ex-MNA Jamshed Dasti Sentenced to 7 Years in Fake Degree Case

A district and sessions judge in Multan has sentenced former Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Jamshed Dasti to seven years in prison in a fake degree case.

Dasti, head of the Awami Raj Party, was convicted under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution of Pakistan for contesting elections with forged academic credentials. He was also found guilty under Sections 420 (cheating) and 471 (using forged documents) of the Pakistan Penal Code, among other charges. In total, the court handed him 17 years in prison, out of which 10 years are bailable.

This case followed a ruling by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) two months ago, which disqualified Dasti for submitting fake educational certificates and declared his National Assembly seat vacant. The ECP’s judgment noted that Dasti had made false statements and filed incorrect declarations, which amounted to corrupt practices under the Elections Act 2017.

Earlier in May, the Karachi Education Board had been directed by the ECP to verify Dasti’s academic documents. Dasti, who was elected from NA-175 Muzaffargarh, faced multiple petitions filed by political rivals including Ameer Akbar, Zulfiqar Dogar, and Sardar Faizul Hassan.

The fake degree scandal in Pakistan politics continues to raise questions about accountability and transparency, with Jamshed Dasti’s conviction serving as a significant reminder of the importance of educational integrity in elections