KARACHI, Jan 24: Federal Minister of Law, Justice and Human Rights & Parliamentary Affairs Barrister Shahida Jamil said here on Thursday the government had changed election rules to ensure effective role of peoples’ representatives in the legislative assemblies.

Talking to reporters after the first convocation of Mohammad Ali Jinnah University, she said the condition of graduation for contestants of elections for the assemblies was not “de-franchizing,” as it would not affect voters. It would help educated people get elected who could serve their electorates in a better way, she added.

All other conditions for contesting elections already existed in the constitution and the present government only added the condition of graduation. She added that legislators usually remained ignorant of positive or negative impact of legislation brought in the parliament, and they opposed or supported it on the whims of their party leadership.

Replying to a question, she said under the new law religious schools had been given under the control of the ministry of religious affairs. The step had been taken to reform them and upgrade their courses with a view to bringing their students on a par with students of other formal educational institutions, she added.

The minister called upon students to work for nation building to supplement government’s efforts to reform society.

She hoped for the establishment of meritocracy in society, saying a true dynamic Muslim society could only be set up with superior merit, integrity, hard work and honesty.—APP