Grounds for disqualifications: Not in the name of religion

ECP reminds political parties about new code of conduct.

ISLAMABAD: For decades, Pakistani politicians have thought nothing of exploiting religious and other sentiments in their election campaigns and earning themselves a seat in parliament. Often their appeals were as shrill as they were common – yet for some reason their legitimacy was rarely questioned. But the May 11 parliamentary election promises to be different, with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) threatening to disqualify politicians who seek votes on the basis of religion, sect, caste or ethnicity.

On Sunday, the Election Commission reminded political groupings and their candidates that they would strictly enforce the code of conduct in place for the 2013 general elections. It called upon all contestants to refrain from eliciting votes “on the basis of religion, sect, caste or ethnicity”, citing a specific provision in the 46-clause code of conduct.

Clause 19 says “political parties, contesting candidates and their supporters shall not propagate against the participation of any person in the elections on the basis of gender, ethnicity, religion or caste”.

Similarly, the poll supervisory body also made it clear that political parties in the fray would not be allowed to provide transport facilities to the voters. Citing clause 18 of the code of conduct, the ECP said that “political parties, contesting candidates and their supporters shall not use any vehicle to transport to or from the polling station any elector except himself and members of his immediate family.”



In order to make sure that political parties follow the code defined by the commission, its last clause states, “The district returning officer and returning officer shall be responsible to ensure implementation of the code of conduct, in their capacity as first class magistrate, through district / local administration, district police or other law enforcing agencies, in the area of their jurisdictions, and violation thereof by any candidate or political party shall be tantamount to malpractices as per law and rules and shall entail legal action as per law and rules including disqualification of the candidate.”

Fake degree holders disqualified

In a notification issued on Sunday, the ECP announced the disqualification of 11 lawmakers who either falsified their academic qualifications or submitted invalid degrees. These legislators will have to return the perks and privileges they received during their tenure, it said.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a senior ECP official said, “The commission has not directly asked the former lawmakers to return the perks and privileges they had been enjoying throughout their tenure, but following their de-notification they will have to do it on their own.”

The notification implies that they were never members of parliament and if they were not MPs, then they would have to return their salaries and other perks, he explained.

The three former senators whose degrees have been declared invalid are Rehana Yahya Baloch, Mir Israrullah Khan Zehri and Mir Mohabat Khan Marri.

The eight ex-members of provincial assemblies whose degrees were declared invalid are Samina Khawar Hayat, Seemal Kamran, Shumaila Rana, Shabina Khan, Rana Ijaz Ahmed Noon, Bashir Ahmad Khan, Nawabzada Tariq Magsi and Mir Nadir Magsi.

Earlier on April 7, the commission had recommended criminal proceedings against these individuals after finding their degrees to be invalid. The commission had also sent the cases to their respective session courts so that legal proceedings could be initiated against them.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th, 2013.