It is important for the Election Commission to fix 30-day scrutiny period for pre-poll clearance of the candidates interested to contest upcoming polls. It is in this manner that Articles 62 and 63 can be implemented in letter and spirit. Only a powerful Election Commission can stop the corrupt elements from taking part in elections.

Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, the founding leader of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) expressed these views while talking to Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, PAT Secretary General, telephonically from Canada yesterday. He criticized the ECP’s lenient position on the issue of fake degrees and added that inability to bar such elements from electoral process would be akin to destroying the future of the Pakistani nation.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri asked the government to immediately approve the nomination form sent by the Election Commission. He said that the ECP should show spine in the face of combined resistance from the government and opposition on the question of barring the corrupt elements through electoral reforms. He said that if the Commission buckled under pressure, it would put a big question mark on the sustainability of democracy in the country.