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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Madrasa Graduates Barred From Polls |
| 2005-08-17 |
| Pakistanâs Supreme Court yesterday rejected the appeals of 11 madrasa graduates who were banned from this weekâs municipal elections because they had not studied English, Pakistan Studies and the countryâs 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 tomorrowâs elections, raising fears that members of outlawed militant groups could become councilors and mayors. âThose people who got certificates from madrasas but had not studied English, Pakistan Studies and Urdu cannot stand in the municipal elections,â said Mukhdoom Ali Khan, the attorney general of Pakistan. The Pakistani government does not recognize certificates of madrasa graduates who donât study and pass the three subjects. |
| Posted by:Fred |