LAHORE, June 30: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) says the decision by the Election Tribunal of the Peshawar High Court disqualifying the MNA of the MMA and ordering a re-election to the seat he won from Kohat has huge implications for the wider political scenario in the country.

“A writ petition seeking the disqualification of at least 80 parliamentarians elected on the MMA tickets, on the basis of the educational qualifications they hold, is already pending before the apex court,” an HRCP statement said on Monday.

It said the decision confirmed fears expressed by the HRCP ahead of the general election last year concerning the motives underpinning the poll process and the attempts made to manipulate the process in order to achieve certain results.

“It would also seem that even after the ushering in of elected governments, the attempts to interfere with and manipulate the system are continuing. Questions regarding educational qualifications and matters of equivalency had been raised separately ahead of the polling, and it is unfortunate that the problems brought before the courts now were not settled at that stage.

“The court verdict, on a petition filed by the losing candidate from Kohat regarding the equivalency of the madrassah qualification held by the MMA’s Mufti Abrar, comes at a time when (the) opposition parties have already expressed concern about continuing efforts to tamper with the political system and the results it has produced.

“There can also be little public confidence in the independence and impartiality of courts given the increased curbing of judicial independence seen over the past three years,” the statement said.

The verdict as such indicated not only the possibility of major political upheaval and instability, but also the fact that the country’s real rulers were determined to take every step possible to ensure national events were made to conform to their agenda and requirements.

“This can only augur ill for the future of democracy within the country and proves once more that the will of common people has little meaning for those still placed at the helm of national affairs.”