By Sajid Salamat
Copyright dailytimes
Published on: September 23, 2025 4:33 AM
A District and Sessions Court in Multan on Monday sentenced former Member of National Assembly (MNA) Jamshed Ahmed Dasti to a total of 17 years in prison in a fake degree case. The case, filed by the Election Commission, accused Dasti of contesting the 2008 election from NA-178 Muzaffargarh using a BA degree issued by a madrassa, which was not verified by the Higher education Commission. After years of hearings, the District and Sessions Judge announced the verdict, handing down multiple sentences under various legal sections, including a maximum of seven years on one count. The development comes two months after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified Dasti over fake academic credentials. In its verdict, the ECP’s three-member bench declared the seat vacant following the lawmaker’s disqualification. “Dasti has made false statements and incorrect declaration, therefore he has also committed offence of corrupt practices defined under Section 167 and 173 of the Elections Act, 2017, punishable under Section 174 of the Election Act, 2017. In May, the commission had decided to get the educational certificates of Member National Assembly (MNA) Jamshed Dasti verified by the Karachi Education Board. Dasti, who was elected from NA-175, Muzaffargarh, in the last general elections, faced cases under Articles 62, 63, Sections 4, 9, 137 of the Elections Act, 2017. Petitions were filed against him by Ameer Akbar, Zulfiqar Dogar and Sardar Faizul Hassan.
