ISLAMABAD, June 22: The government on Saturday promulgated an ordinance making it mandatory for all candidates to national and provincial assemblies to be graduates.

The ordinance, called the Conduct of General Elections (Amendment) Order 2002, reads that “a person shall not be allowed to be elected or chosen as a member of Majlis-i-Shoora (Parliament) or a provincial assembly unless he is at least a graduate possessing a bachelor’s degree in any discipline or any degree recognized as equivalent by the University Grants Commission under the University Grants Commission Act, 1974.”

The ordinance has been promulgated under the Provisional Constitutional Order.

Leaders of different political parties condemned the government move, terming it illegal and unconstitutional.

Senior Vice President of Pakistan Muslim League (N) told Dawn that his party would discuss the matter at its Central Working Committee meeting in Lahore on July 2.

Pakistan Peoples Party Acting Secretary-General Mian Raza Rabbani said his party would take up the issue of filing a petition against the law in the Supreme Court at its next meeting.

“We believe this is yet another step towards pre-poll rigging to exclude candidates of the mainstream political parties from contesting the elections,” Mr Rabbani said.