ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to submit a reply over the lingering process of verification of the degree of Liaqat Hussain Bhatti, a winning candidate from NA-103.

Bhatti contested from NA-103 Hafizabad-II in the recent general elections and defeated his opponent Mian Shahid Hussain Bhatti with only a difference of 322 votes.

Ahmad Awais, counsel for Shahid apprised the court that the Lahore High Court (LHC) had directed the HEC for the verification of Liaqat Bhatti's graduation degree in 2002, but the HEC lingered the matter for three years and did not comply with the LHC's orders.

After three years, LHC disposed off the case saying that as the tenure of the government was over so there was no need to probe the matter anymore.

Later on, respondent again participated in the general elections of 2008 and succeeded, but again the HEC did not respond over the matter.

He stated that this time again in the general election of 2013, Liaqat Bhatti contested without getting his degree verified by the HEC.

Awais prayed before the court that Liaqat Bhatti should not have been allowed to contest in the election without getting his degree verified.

It is to mention here that the ECP has also announced for the re-polling of the results of NA-103 over the charges of rigging in the constituency.

Later, the bench directed the ECP to present the detailed relevant record of the said person during the next date of hearing and adjourned the case till June 19.