RAWALPINDI, Feb 4: A majority of district council members, in a session on Monday, opposed a resolution demanding reviewing of educational criteria for candidates contesting general elections.

The members will decide the resolution through votes when the council resumes its session on Thursday.

In Monday’s session, most of the members were of the opinion that the education criteria set for candidates should not be lowered.

There was a sizable number of the proponents of the resolution, but they too agreed that higher education requirement was essential for the legislators for steering the country out of its various crises. They based their support for the motion on the dismal literacy rate in the country, particularly the rate of higher education.

They added, under the new law, almost 80 per cent of the country’s population would be denied the right to contest polls. Azhar Iqbal Satti had moved the resolution, demanding of the government to reduce the qualification requirement from bachelors degree to matriculation to enable maximum participation of the people in elections.

Raja Hameed, opposing the motion, said, to make legislation, it was imperative to have highly educated people in national and provincial assemblies. He maintained that bachelors’ degree was not sufficient and this criteria should be enhanced. The decision of increasing education criteria for the candidates is in the best interest of the country, he added.

Anjum Farooq Piracaha, taking part in the debate, said poverty and illiteracy were widespread in the country, therefore setting such criteria would not do any good. He said the government should first deal with the harsh ground realities of massive illiteracy and pervasive poverty.

Col (Rtd) Abbass, opposing the resolution, said the government had taken the right decision as illiterate people could not run the country.

Legislation, he said, was an important task, for which highly qualified people were required. He also called for increasing the educational criteria for the candidates taking part in general elections.

Manzoor Turk said the resolution might hinder effective representation of masses in higher echelons of power.