LAHORE, 17 August 2005 — Pakistan’s Supreme Court yesterday rejected the appeals of 11 madrasa graduates who were banned from this week’s municipal elections because they had not studied English, Pakistan Studies and the country’s dominant language, Urdu, an official said.
The ruling by Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry upholds a law that had not been strictly enforced in the past for fear of angering students and clerics in madrasas, which have been accused of fostering militancy.
The Supreme Court decision, which will likely affect scores of candidates, came days after another judge allowed a religious school graduate to run in tomorrow’s elections, raising fears that members of outlawed militant groups could become councilors and mayors.
“Those people who got certificates from madrasas but had not studied English, Pakistan Studies and Urdu cannot stand in the municipal elections,” said Mukhdoom Ali Khan, the attorney general of Pakistan.
The Pakistani government does not recognize certificates of madrasa graduates who don’t study and pass the three subjects.
Pakistan is a key ally of the United States in its war on terror and local media reports say a number of extremists are standing in the municipal elections, raising concerns that they might try to block the government’s campaign against extremism after being elected to local office.
Pakistan in recent weeks has arrested hundreds of supporters of outlawed extremist groups in an effort to end militancy and extremism.
