Islamabad, June 18: A petition has been submitted to the chairman of the senate and speaker of the national assembly, seeking disqualification of 35 parliamentarians of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), as they do not fulfil the educational requirements for legislators. The petition, submitted by the Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) chairman Maulana Syed Iqbal Haider, alleges that about 35 MMA parliamentarians -- seven senators and 28 members of National Assembly (MNAs) -- have no right to continue as parliamentarians as they did not possess the required educational qualifications, the 'Daily News' said today.
The list of MMA parliamentarians includes top leaders like Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani. Maulana Iqbal Haider has also questioned the educational qualification of Maulana Sami-ul-Haq. In his request to the chairman of the senate and the assembly speaker, the pat chairman urged them to refer this important case to the Election Commission for required action, pleading that the educational qualifications of the MMA members were not equivalent to the masters degree, stipulated for parliamentary membership. These parliamentarians were granted degrees (SANADS) only for teaching purpose and have to appear in two more subjects for becoming eligible for the membership of the national legislature.
Bureau Report