Mid-term elections?
by
Javed Hafiz |
Unlikely, but fake degrees scandal hitting the establishment
The issue of fake degrees is truly scandalous. Number of parliamentarians already disqualified on this score has gone into double figures. Many more are likely to meet the same fate. The problem is extensive and can rock the political boat. Political parties affected are all heavy weight mainstream parties. Interestingly Muslim League (N), so far standing on a high moral ground, takes the lead. A close second is the ruling People’s Party. These two parties had signed the lofty Charter of Democracy. What a quick and disgraceful moral free fall!
The condition of holding a degree was introduced by former president Pervez Musharraf. This made some of the politicians wrongly claim that they were graduates. But interestingly, no fake degree was detected during the tenure of parliament elected in 2002. I think Musharraf had decided to look the other way since his supporters had the majority. The graduation condition was still there when 2008 elections were held. These elections were held in a rushed manner and the political parties may not have had the time to scrutinise the degrees.
However, real political bankruptcy of the ruling party came to the fore when it decided to re-award its ticket to Jamshed Dasti who was known to all and sundry for his fake bachelor’s degree. And ironically he was re-elected. Prime Minister Gillani went to his constituency to speak in his support. “If people elect Dasti again, what can you do?” said President Zardari recently. However, it is a fact that Zardari was instrumental in granting party ticket to Dasti for his re-election knowing fully well that the politician was tainted. Birds of a feather flock together, they say! How else can you explain this rank immoral political step?
While some politicians want blanket immunity, fake degrees included, the Supreme Court thinks otherwise. It has already directed the Election Commission to proceed against MPs holding fake degrees. The government is now thinking hard about delaying the implementation of this directive. However, the ruling party is really in a fix. It is believed that quite a few MPs in Baluchistan Assembly have fake degrees and they also happen to be the supporters of Chief Minister Aslam Raisani. When he was asked the other day about the fake degree holders, Raisani gave an interesting answer: “A degree is a degree, whether genuine or fake.” Ever since, Raisani has become the butt of political jokes in the media.
The Higher Education Comm-ission has been tasked to scrutinise all degrees of parliamentarians. It is working extra time to accomplish this task. The Supreme Court has directed all district judges to give decisions in such cases within three months.
Can this issue force mid-term elections? The reply so far is in the negative. First of all the call for mid-term elections has come from a couple of right wing political parties that had boycotted the 2008 elections. Their plea was that the elections must be boycotted to erode Musharraf’s legitimacy. Having missed the boat then, they want to enter the parliament now. These political parties include Jamat-e-Islami and Imran Khan’s Tehrik Insaf. In fact, Imran Khan is already running some kind of an election campaign. He is addressing political meetings vowing to end corruption and terrorism in 90 days.
So a broad consensus of political parties required for the mid-term elections is missing. Political conditions in two provinces are not appropriate to holding elections. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan face terrorism. Muslim League (N) is sitting on the fence in regard to the mid-term elections. Discovery of fake degrees in its ranks is a great embarrassment. The ruling People’s Party and its allies naturally want to complete their five- year term without any hindrance.
The discovery of fake degrees is an unfortunate development for the political system. It has dented the credibility of the parliament. Even important legislation like the 18th amendment, approved by the parliament, has become tainted. Political parties in a democratic system are supposed to lead and develop nations. And leadership without moral authority loses legitimacy. Nascent democracy in Pakistan appears under the impact of an evil eye.
As the war in Afghanistan enters final crucial phase, the international forces may also not like too much political upheaval in Pakistan . A national election is a luxury that poor nations cannot afford every now and then. Due to its dismal performance, the ruling People’s Party can foresee its imminent political fall, if elections are held today. In case Jamat-e-Islami and Tehrik Insaf gain significant number of seats, it would become difficult for any government to give all out support to the United States in Afghanistan.
The moral upheaval that we see today in Pakistan may be good for it in the long run. It may purge the system of dishonest politicians, even if partially. The nations that do not distinguish between a horse and a donkey do not go very far. Genuine and fake products cannot be bracketed together. A vastly changed and aware Pakistan will not accept this political fraud. In case the number of fake degree holding MPs goes into three figures, it may become difficult for the ruling party to resist mid-term elections, all problems notwithstanding.
(Javed Hafiz is Pakistan’s former ambassador to the Sultanate)
Oman Tribune |
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