Arrest Warrant
GILGIT: A Senior Civil Judge, Hidayat Ali, has issued a bailable arrest warrant against Khalid Khurshid Khan, the former Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, in connection with allegations of possessing a fraudulent academic degree, according to a report.
Khalid Khurshid Khan, a key political figure who also served as the president of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chapter in Gilgit-Baltistan, is accused of using a fictitious law degree from the University of London to secure a lawyer’s license from the Gilgit-Baltistan Bar Council.
The controversy extends to his submission of an affidavit to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Islamabad, aiming to obtain an equivalency certificate based on this degree.
The issue surfaced when Khurshid, a candidate from Astore, participated in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections and was subsequently elected as the Chief Minister.
His tenure, however, was marred by allegations regarding the authenticity of his educational credentials. The Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Court ultimately disqualified him in July 2023, following a petition filed by Shahzad Agha, a fellow member of the GB Assembly.
The three-member bench of the court ruled that Khurshid’s degree was fraudulent and disqualified him under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution, which dictate the qualifications and disqualifications for membership of Parliament.
The petition against Khurshid highlighted that despite his claims of having obtained a law degree from London, verification efforts had failed to substantiate his educational claims. This led to his disqualification and subsequent booking in a fraud case.
Khalid Khurshid Khan had held the office since December 2020 and was considered a close associate of PTI chairman Imran Khan.
His arrest warrant stems from his continued absence from court proceedings regarding the case, which compelled the Senior Civil Judge to take legal action to ensure Khurshid’s appearance in court.
As this legal drama unfolds, it underscores the stringent checks and balances in place within Pakistani politics to uphold the integrity of its public officials.
The case against the former Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan remains a significant point of discussion in Pakistani political circles, reflecting the ongoing efforts to ensure accountability and transparency at the highest levels of governance.
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