September 06, 2007	Thursday	Sha'aban 23, 1428

PESHAWAR, Sept 5: Senior politicians and member of religious parties in the NWFP, who did not qualify for the 2002 general elections due to the graduation condition, have now become eligible for the contest after obtaining the required degrees.

The Chief Executive Order regarding elections of 2002 had kept many prominent politicians out of the competition, including former National Assembly Speaker Gohar Ayub Khan, Awami National Party senior vice-president Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and Peshawar district nazim Haji Ghulam Ali, but now all of them have obtained their degrees.

In 2002, non-graduate Gohar Ayub was unable to contest the general elections, which paved the way for his son Umer Ayub to become a member of the National Assembly from Haripur constituency on a Pakistan Muslim League (Q) ticket.

A relative and sources in the ruling party confirmed that Mr Gohar had obtained a degree and was likely to contest the senate elections, whereas Mr Umer would try to retain his seat in the National Assembly in the coming elections.

Mr Ghulam Bilour also could not participate in the 2002 general elections and had fielded his nephew Usman Bashir Bilour in the polls, who lost the election to MMA candidate Shabbir Ahmad Khan.

Mr Bilour had earned fame in 1993 when he defeated Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chairperson Banezir Bhutto with a big margin from the same constituency.

He has secured a bachelors degree and would contest the coming elections from the same constituency.

“I am eligible for the forthcoming elections and will make the name of the institution public that issued me the degree soon,” he said.

Nazim Peshawar Haji Ghulam Ali said on Wednesday that he had received his graduate degree from the University of Peshawar.

He said that many Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) leaders had either obtained their degrees or were about to receive it.

Under Section 8 (A) of the Conduct of General Elections Order, 2002, a person would not be qualified to be elected or chosen as a member of the Majlis-i-Shoora or a provincial assembly unless he/she possessed at least a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline recognised by the University Grants Commission.

Hafiz Akhtar Ali, provincial minister for irrigation, was also securing a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Peshawar.

The minister said he had cleared his part-I papers and was now preparing for the final term.

When asked about the reason behind his obtaining the degree, he said: “Getting knowledge is binding on every individual from cradle to grave and with this thought I want to hold a Bachelor’s degree even though my existing degree issued by the Wafaq-ul-Madaris is recognised as equivalent by the UGC.”

He confirmed that many members among the religious-political parties had obtained the graduation degrees in the last couple of years.