MANSEHRA, Oct 24: Scores of people took to the streets in Balakot on Thursday and blocked the main road in protest against disqualification of Mian Ziaur Rehman of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz from his provincial assembly seat of PK-54 Mansehra-II by the election tribunal.

`Those who looted the national wealth and worked against the interests of poor segments of society are behind my disqualification, but I have complete faith in the judiciary. I will challenge my disqualification in the apex court,` said Mr Rehman while speaking to protesters.

The protesters gathered outside the main market and raised slogans against former provincial minister Ahmad Hussain Shah, who had moved the elec-tion tribunal in Abbottabad seeking disqualification of Mr Rehman. Mr Shah had claimed that Mr Rehman`s Shahadat-i-Alima degree from a seminary in Gotki, Sindh, was not genuine.

The election tribunal had declared Mr Rehman disqualified from his seat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly for seven years and asked the election commission to hold fresh election on the seat.

The protesters also blocked BalakotNaran section of Mansehra-NaranJalkhad road for about two hours.

Mian Inayatur Rehman and Ghulam Rabbani advocate also spoke on the occasion.

`We have been struggling for our rights against the illegal occupation of our land and will never bow to the exploiters,` said Mr Rehman. He said thathe would move the Supreme Court against his disqualification.

He alleged that Mr Shah had plundered funds meant for the development of Balakot tehsil and those affected by October 2005 earthquake.

Mr Rehman said that his seminary degree was valid and he would prove it before the apex court. He said that his lawyers had completed documentation and would move the court on Friday (today).

Meanwhile, former provincial minister Ahmad Hussain Shah in a press statement made it clear that he never indulged in corruption. Mr Shah said that he had worked for promotion of education in the province and he could not tolerate that an MPA with a fake degree represented Balakot in the provincial assembly.