Jailing politicians

Our political classshould actually be done by purging crooks and liars from office.

One of the many perplexing laws General (retd) Pervez Musharraf gifted us was the requirement that all parliamentarians should be graduates. The dictator essentially decreed that an overwhelming majority of the country was no longer capable of running for public office. Once it assumed power, the PPP government quite rightly disposed of his discriminatory law but its ramifications are still being felt. Many politicians who did not meet the requirement, nonetheless stood for election in 2008 bearing forged degrees or those obtained from unaccredited universities. Some who were found out were disqualified from the assemblies while others are now being caught as they submit nominations to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The Supreme Court has directed the ECP to not only disqualify those holding fake degrees but the courts are now also jailing those who have been caught. On top of that, those who lied about holding a dual nationality are also being imprisoned.



There are some who may argue that prison sentences are an over-the-top punishment in this matter. However, severely dealing with those who have betrayed public trust should serve as a deterrent to future candidates for election. We rightly expect those who represent us to have an unimpeachable moral character and those who lied on their nomination forms have let down the country. It should also be kept in mind that these candidates are all guilty of perjury, which is a criminal offence in all countries, while those who faked degrees can also be charged with forgery for personal gain.

The question of fairness does arise. Since such severe punishments are being handed down, they must apply to all candidates who lie on their nomination forms. Tax evaders, or even those who never filed taxes, should receive similar harsh treatment. The FBR should be called in for assistance in this matter. This is a far greater offence than submitting a fake degree or holding a foreign passport since tax defaulters are essentially robbing the national exchequer. General (retd)Musharraf may have tried to cleanse our political class with his graduate requirement; now it should actually be done by purging crooks and liars from office.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2013.