Editorial
Those convicted taking part in election!
The question is of morality and clean politics
We are flabbergasted at the airing of a demand by BNP joint-secretary general Nazrul Islam Khan to the effect that those convicted by lower and special courts be allowed to participate in the polls pending appeal to the higher court. Something on similar lines has also been advanced by AL acting president Zillur Rahman.
We find the argument for the convicts' participation in the election expedient, and even disingenuous.
From a legalistic point of view and technically speaking, their claim may have a basis as a convict has a natural right to appeal. But what about the question of morality? Here are men who have been found guilty of the charges levelled against them through a legal process in a court of law. And what is the background it was set against? We all know that it was corruption, more than anything else that brought about the present state of things. When people are longing for a better future, something that is not status quo ante at the very least, such a demand is disquieting. Rather than allowing them to take part in the election while we await disposal of their appeal in a higher court, we would like to turn around the argument to say that it's morally repugnant for them to seek vote from the people till they are exonerated by the higher court. Political parties owe it to the voters to appear before them with a clean image in contrast to an encumbered, blemished one.
Apart from the question of morality, BNP leader Nazrul Islam's argument is also untenable on practical grounds. He says, "we have nothing to say if a higher court upholds the verdict of a lower or special court". If that be the case, why can't political parties take the position that until a convicted person is not cleared by higher court, he/she will not get party nomination. Such a stance will show their commitment to "clean up" our politics and also strengthen the effort to fight corruption.
The leaders of major parties miss no opportunity in vociferously claiming how dedicated they are to clean politics and a new political culture in a bid to chime in with popular mood and expectations. But when the chips come down they seem to slide back into their old box again. The question is: do the political parties have none others than the convicts to field? Don't they have any new faces to offer? For all we know, they have plenty of perfectly deserving clean candidates in their ranks.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments