A full bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan rejected several identical petitions filed by Qari Saeed Asad and others, praying to the court to allow them to contest LB elections on the basis of madrassah certificates treating them at par with matriculation certificates.
The bench passed these orders after hearing attorney general of Pakistan and the petitioners counsel at length.
The petitioners have challenged the notification issued by election commission of Pakistan imposing condition of passing English, Urdu and Pakistan Studies with madrassah certificate.
The petitioners counsel contended that during the last general elections, various candidates were allowed to contest elections of parliament on the basis of madrassah certificates. It was contended that the Peshawar High Court has already allowed such candidates to contest LB polls, but the Lahore High Court rejected the same on the ground that the candidates having passed madrassah certificates must have to produce equivalent certificate.
The law officer in rebuttal contended before the court that the condition of passing English, Urdu and Pakistan Studies was already intact legally, as the University Grant Commission, Higher Education Commission and Inter Board Committee had already approved this condition, and added that these certificates were being accepted in teaching fields. He said the election commission of Pakistan had issued the notification in question in accordance with the provisions of local government ordinance. He also contended that the madrassah certificate is only acceptable of recognised religious institutions with additional subjects of English, Urdu and Pakistan Studies. He therefore prayed to the court to reject the petition for being not maintainable. The apex court accordingly rejected the petitions.