KARACHI, Jan 31: Federal Minister of Law and Human Rights Barrister Shahida Jamil said here on Thursday that major electoral reforms undertaken by the government were aimed at making Pakistan an ideal state as envisioned by the Quaid-i-Azam.

“By the reforms we are moving towards a better civilized society. The condition of graduation for contesting in elections to the National and provincial assemblies do not amount to disenfranchisement, rather it would ensure granting right to every individual to cast his/her vote,” she said speaking at the 45th graduation ceremony of the College of Nursing, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC).

She said the constitution of 1973 clearly stated nine conditions for National Assembly candidates. “The condition of graduate candidates was incorporated as 10th clause by the government with a view to heralding the entry of educated public representatives into the legislative assemblies.”

She praised the professionalism at the College for producing efficient and competent nurses.

Ms Jamil called upon nurses to maintain cleanliness where they worked as most of the government hospitals did not maintain proper cleanliness.

Earlier in her welcome address, the chief of College of Nursing, Mrs Mahwish Nadir Khan, said the College since its establishment about 45 years back it had produced 3,327 nursing graduates.

She pointed out an acute scarcity of teachers at the college. Lack of furniture and dilapidated condition of the college building were some of the major problems.—PPI