The Right Candidate

Nothing ends well that is not started properly. That is my experience in life. So when I discovered that Allama Tahirul Qadri’s long-march is meant to ensure that electoral reforms are done to ensure that candidates for the next general elections in Pakistan will comply with the requirements of the constitution I got interested. I should thank the gentleman that if it was not for his hue and cry I would never had read article 62 of the constitution which goes as follows:

[62.

Qualifications for membership of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament): (1) A person shall not be qualified to be elected or chosen as a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) unless- (a) he is a citizen of Pakistan; (b) he is, in the case of the National Assembly, not less than twenty -five years of age and is enrolled as a voter in any electoral roll in- (i) any part of Pakistan, for election to a general seat or a seat reserved for non-Muslims; and (ii) any area in a Province from which she seeks membership for election to a seat reserved for women. (c) he is, in the case of Senate, not less than thirty years of age and is enrolled as a voter in any area in a Province or, as the case may be, the Federal Capital or the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, from where he seeks membership; (d) he is of good character and is not commonly known as one who violates Islamic Injunctions; (e) he has adequate knowledge of Islamic teachings and practises obligatory duties prescribed by Islam as well as abstains from major sins ; (f) he is sagacious, righteous and non-profligate, honest and ameen, there being no declaration to the contrary by a court of law; (g) he has not, after the establishment of Pakistan, worked against the integrity of the country or opposed the ideology of Pakistan. (2) The disqualifications specified in paragraphs (d) and (e) shall not apply to a person who is a non-Muslim, but such a person shall have good moral reputation.]

The intention of those who wrote these words was indeed noble and quite commensurate with an Islamic Republic. It really defines the agenda of the Election Commission for verification of minimum qualifications of the candidates. If I am not wrong a number of other requirements such as the submission of asset lists and income tax returns have been added by the EC to reinforce the spirit of the above clause.

However, it seems that the means to translate the spirit of clause (e) in to measurable action has evaded the EC so far. The only way of determining a man’s knowledge of any subject is by testing it and it seems that an essential part of the qualification process for election aspirants should be a written test of their knowledge of Islamic teachings. It is never too late to start a good tradition.

It should not be too difficult for the ECP to organize a nation-wide election prequalification examination for all aspirants of national and provincial elections, positions as president and governor or even advisors with a common question paper containing a sizeable number of MCQs about Islamic teachings prepared by reputable Islamic scholars. The passing score should be kept high, say about 80% and I would suggest that non-Muslim candidates also take this test. After all they have a right of vote on all legislation and as far as I know there is no religion that prevents its followers from studying the principles of other religions.

I hope that I shall not need to organize a long-march to get myself heard by the honorable Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan. Frankly speaking, I don’t have the resources for it and I would not mind if someone else takes up the mantle.