Candidate’s papers rejected for different views

Islamabad: Candidacy papers of a former MP for the forthcoming May general elections were rejected on Thursday because of his published views deemed to be against the Pakistan Ideology.

Ayaz Amir, a noted columnist and former MP belonging to mainstream political party Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), had filed nomination papers to run for National Assembly seat from his hometown Chakwal from where was elected in the 2008 elections.

His papers were turned down by the retuning officer on the basis of two columns about Pakistan’s ideology written by him, he told reporters and said he would move an appeal against the decision.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has vowed strict application of the eligibility criteria laid down in the country’s constitution for election candidates under Articles 62 and 63, contrary to lenient attitude in the past elections.

According to the criteria it is to be judged that a candidate has adequate knowledge of Islamic teachings, practices obligatory duties prescribed by Islam and abstains from major sins and has not worked against the integrity of the country or opposed the Pakistan Ideology.

The articles also contain clauses under which bank loans and utility bills defaulters as well as tax evaders are to be disqualified from the polls.

Those former lawmakers who had presented fake educational degrees to contest 2008 elections are to be barred from running in 2013 elections, according to the orders of the Supreme Court.

A verification process had found educational degrees of 54 ex-legislators to be fake while another 189 were given time until April 5 by the top court to get their educational certificates verified from the concerned competent authority.

A few former lawmakers against whom fake degree charges were referred to lower courts by the ECP have already been tried and punished.

In the latest such case, the district and sessions court at Muzaffargarh in Punjab province on Thursday awarded three years imprisonment and a fine to former Pakistan People’s Party MP Jamshed Dasti for presenting fake degree in 2008 elections.

The court declared Dasti ineligible for contesting elections and he was reportedly arrested after the court’s order. He has right to appeal.

The ECP on Thursday announced tribunals consisting of judges of high courts for disposal of appeals against the decisions of Returning Officers‚ rejecting or accepting the nomination papers of the candidates for the general elections.

Nine tribunals have been constituted throughout the country. The ongoing process of scrutiny of some 18000 nomination papers filed for national and provincial assemblies is to end on April 7. The final list of candidates will be published on April 19, according to the announced schedule.