RAWALPINDI: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Tuesday declared Member Punjab Assembly Shaukat Bhatti ineligible after the commission confirmed that his graduation degree was counterfeit.

A five-member bench led by Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Sardar Raza Khan announced the verdict on the case against the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz MPA.

Pakistan Peoples Party's Asad Kiyani had submitted the disqualification petition against Bhatti.

Bhatti was elected as a Punjab Assembly Member from PP-4 constituency of Rawalpindi, which falls in Gujar Khan tehsil.

Bhatti had won the constituency in the 2013 general elections after receiving over 60,000 votes. His main rival, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's Sajid Mehmood, received almost 37,000 votes.

The by-election on a constituency where a seat falls vacant for any reason is held within 60 days of the issuance of a disqualification notification.