'Corrupt' clause in Pak. polls raises eyebrows

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, NOV. 28. An announcement by the military government that the ``corrupt'' would not be allowed to participate in the elections to the local bodies, scheduled in several phases beginning from the last week of December, has raised doubts over the credibility of the elections and the motives of the Musharraf regime.

No one disputes the noble intent behind the objective, to bar the ``corrupt'' from participating in the polls to the local bodies, but the moot question is the criteria to be adopted in deciding as to who is corrupt.

It is bound to prove to be a contentious issue, as the ``accountability'' drive launched by the government to bring the corrupt to book has raised hackles in influential sections of the Pakistani society. The general refrain is that the government is using the process to ``fix'' inconvenient persons and hound those who could pose a potential challenge.

As it is, the local bodies' election planned by the government has been dubbed as a meaningless exercise, as political parties have been barred from taking part in the process. Members of a political party could contest but only as individuals. They are not allowed to use the party flag.

All the major parties have termed the plan for local bodies' election as a ``gimmick,'' but at the same time they are in a dilemma on whether or not to allow their cadres to take part in the process.

The announcement about the ``corrupt'' being not allowed to take part in the elections has further raised suspicions that the government would like have total control over the conduct and outcome of the election process.

Though several spokesmen of the government have categorically stated that the electoral college emerging from the local bodies election would not be converted for creation of a new political set-up, doubts persist and questions continue to be raised.

The government intends to have complete control over the outcome of the local bodies election was evident from the pronouncement of the Minister in-charge of the elections at a news conference here. He said that in case the ``corrupt'' candidates manage to get elected, they would be disqualified.

Even those whose utility bills are pending for the last six months would not be eligible to take part in the election process. The candidates can canvass but they are not allowed to take out processions and address congregations.

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Section  : International
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