The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday disqualified Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Jamshed Dasti for submitting a fake educational degree, declaring his NA-175 (Muzaffargarh) seat vacant. The verdict came after the ECP approved two petitions, including a reference from the National Assembly Speaker, seeking Dasti’s disqualification over false declarations in his nomination papers.
A three-member ECP bench, headed by Member (Sindh) Nisar Durrani, ruled that Dasti had violated Sections 167 and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017, which pertain to false statements and corrupt practices. The bench ordered legal proceedings under Section 190(2) of the Act, which could lead to further penalties. The decision followed an investigation that exposed Dasti’s matriculation, FA (Intermediate), and BA degrees as fake—declared invalid by the Bahawalpur University and Board.
The case against Dasti was filed by petitioners Ameer Akbar, Zulfiqar Dogar, and Sardar Faizul Hassan, who alleged that he had misrepresented his educational qualifications. During hearings, it was revealed that Dasti had never completed his matriculation, despite claiming an FA degree in his nomination papers. When confronted, he submitted a matric certificate from the Karachi Board, but the ECP deemed it insufficient to justify his earlier false declarations.
This disqualification underscores the ECP’s stricter enforcement of electoral laws to ensure transparency. Dasti’s removal sets a precedent for holding lawmakers accountable for fraudulent documentation. With legal proceedings now underway, the case also raises questions about how many other politicians may face similar scrutiny for discrepancies in their academic or asset declarations. The ECP’s action signals a push for greater accountability in Pakistan’s electoral process.