KARACHI, Jan 25: The condition of graduation for contesting in the national and provincial assemblies’ elections will put a large number of politicians in Sindh out of the political arena.

Although the decision has been welcomed by people from all walks of life, except the urban-based political parties including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Jamaat-i-Islami, almost all the leading political parties, including the PPP and the PML, have criticized the government’s decision.

According to the PPP, there is no guarantee that a graduate member of the parliament will be a sincere representative of the masses than a non-graduate.

A spokesman for the party, citing examples of the well-known social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi, asked how could he be a member of the assemblies after imposition of the condition, despite his being a renowned sympathizer of the people.

A Jamaat-i-Islami spokesman welcomed the decision but opined that the minorities would be the ultimate looser due to the restoration of joint electoral system and because of the condition of graduation to be a criterion for contesting the polls.

However, lauding the decision, the spokesman said it should have been taken much earlier, as there must be some set standards for the public representatives.

“There is no match between the two members — the under-matriculate and the highly qualified one,” he added.

A survey shows that besides the PPP stalwarts, the graduation condition will put a large number of independent politicians in Sindh in an awkward situation.

The political bigwigs of Thatta — Eijaz Ali Sherazi and the incumbent Nazim of Thatta, Shafqat Ali Shah Sherazi, more than two-time elected MNAs Babu Ghulam Hussain Memon and Ghulam Qadir Malkani — will not qualify the condition, while the heavyweight and the ever-winning candidate from Dadu, Kotri and Sehwan, Malik Asad Sikandar is also a non-graduate.

According to observers, Malik Asad Sikandar will suffer more as his brothers are so young that he will have to place his friend Pir Bux Khaskheli in the forefront.

Twice-elected MNA from Dadu, Haji Mohammad Bux Jamali, is too a non- graduate politician.

Sardar Babul Khan Jakhrani, Agha Ghulam Ali Buledi, Sardar Sher Mohammad Bijarani, Hakim Ali Sundarani, Sundar Khan Sundarani, Mehran Bijarani and Ali Nawaz Shehlani — the heavyweights of Jacobabad district — are also non-graduates, leaving the political field open for Sardar Manzoor Panhwar, Naseer Khoso, Muqeem Khoso, Saleem Jan Mazari, Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, Eijaz Jakhrani, Sudham Chand and Mir Hassan Khoso to show their muscles.

The political field in Shikarpur district is also open for the new-comers as the bigwigs of the district, Sardar Himmat Kumario, Babul Khan Bhayyo, Moulana Abdullah Pahor and Siraj Shah Amroti, are reportedly non-graduates. The linchpin of election politics of Ghotki district, Sardar Ali Gohar Khan Mahar, is also a non-graduate, while Ahmed Yar Shar, Raheem Bux Bozdar and Mian Mitho also do not qualify the new condition.

A similar situation is being witnessed in district Sukkur as Ghulam Mustafa Bozadar, Maulana Murad Halejvi also fall in the list of non-graduates.

Come to the Khairpur district, where Abdul Qadir Jeelani, Bashir Bhaban, Faqir Bakht Heesbani, Mohammad Ali Bhaban and Pir Gul Shah also fall in the category of non-graduates, clearing the way for Qaim Ali Shah, Ghous Ali Shah, Zafar Bilal, Javed Shah, Pervez Ali Shah, Naeem Kharal, Manzoor Wassan, Sadruddin Shah and Raja Sain to continue their politics without any hurdles.

The hard-boiled and time-tested politicians of Mirpurkhas and Tharparkar districts — Noor Mohammad Shah Jeelani, Mir Hayyat Talpur, Khair Mohammad Bhurgari, Ghulam Mohammad Khaskheli, Ghulam Mohammad Lat, Gul Mohammad Memon, Jadam Mangrio, Arbab Amir Hassan, Arbab Ataullah, Syed Mardan Shah — also do not qualify the condition.

The Jatoi family of Naushehro Feroze seems to be lucky as all the active political figures of the area, including Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, his sons and nephew are educated. Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Murad Ali are also highly-educated personalities of their constituencies, while Rahmatullah Beehan and Raza Mohammad Dahri are reportedly non-graduates.

Ghafoor Nizamani, Bashir Halepoto and Mir Allah Bux Talpur of Badin district also fall in the list of non-graduates, paving the way for Fahmida Mirza and other new-comers, while Abdus Sattar Bachani and Latif Mangrio are also non-graduates.—PPI