The entire process to scrutinise the electoral applications of the candidates for the forthcoming general elections on May 11 has been a cynical farce. The obsessive implementation of Articles 62 and 63, despotically inducted into the constitution by the Zia dictatorship, has triggered an unprecedented furor in recent days. These include certain ‘qualifications’ a member of the ‘Majlis-e-shoora’ (parliament) is obliged to possess according to Articles 62 and 63, which reveal the ignorance and reactionary mindset that marks the state bureaucracy. The provision 62 (1-d), for instance, states: “He is of good character and is not commonly known as one who violates Islamic injunctions.” According to 62 (1-e), “he has adequate knowledge of Islamic teachings and practices obligatory duties prescribed by Islam as well as abstains from major sins.” Similarly, 62 (f) says:”He is sagacious, righteous and non-profligate, honest and ameen, there being no declaration to the contrary by a court of law.” All of this is incredible stuff. Firstly, who will define a ‘good character’ and what will be the criteria to ascertain ‘good character? Defining ‘commonly known’ will be equally problematic. Lastly, every sect has a set of ‘Islamic injunctions’. Which sect will be given priority over the others in determining the ‘Islamic injunctions’? Similarly, the adequacy of ‘knowledge of Islamic teachings’ is hard to determine. Equally problematic is the notion of ‘minor sins’ from which the candidates are exempted from disqualification. Differentiating the ‘major sins’ from minor ones is a difficult task, if not impossible. And yet again which authority, under which law, will determine the truthfulness, sagacity, righteousness and honesty of an individual? Of course, the overbearing lords from the rich classes stand a better chance. They can portray their plunder as a gift of god, their obscene luxuries as the reward for their pious deeds, and their repressive power as the jihad against infidelity and adultery. In fact, these notorious Articles reflect the tyranny of the Zia regime that wanted to subjugate the people simmering in revolt to attain their basic rights and freedoms. In the name of religion, the private lives of the people were viciously intruded into and infringed upon. The vigilantes of the Jamaat-e-Islami played an auxiliary to the repressive general. The Jamaat activists acted as informers, accused especially left- wing activists with so-called sins and blasphemy, etc, and with the backing of the state, they organised brutal attacks and pogroms against the left activists and their families to prevent uprisings against the fanatical dictatorship. Women were the specific targets with hadood and other draconian laws choking and agonising their social existence. Alas! Post the Zia dictatorship, the subsequent capitalist democratic regimes continued with these repressive laws. These liberal and secular governments were reluctant to abolish these draconian laws encroaching upon the personal lives, privacy, and integrity of ordinary people. The core reason was that these liberals and ‘secularists’ used religion to distract movements that erupted against their misrule and break the unity of the class struggle. Then came the policy of reconciliation, sponsored by US imperialism in the 2000s. This was launched to obliterate the right-left divide. However, as long as class society remains, the class struggle will always reverberate. The left-right conflict is actually the reflection of this class war. The sclerotic state of the economy, the conflagration in society, and the generalised decay in politics is replicated in the degeneration of morality, ethics, attitudes and behaviour that dominate the epoch through which this tragic country is currently passing. The pathetic questions posed by the Returning Officers to the prospective candidates and the wretched answers being shot back by these partisans of democracy constitute a theatre of the absurd, depicting the social malaise that has set in. The contradictions between different sections of the corrupt ruling elite have begun to explode. There is hardly any candidate possessing the credentials listed in Articles 62 and 63. Hence all will lie, take false oaths, and hypocrisy will prevail like never before. Trotsky says, “The so called ‘generally recognised’ moral precepts in essence preserve an algebraic, that is, an indeterminate character. They merely express the fact that man, in his individual conduct, is bound by certain common norms that flow from his being a member of society.” However, these norms are set and determined by the ruling strata that is callous, reactionary, corrupt, deceptive, merciless, treacherous and charlatan because of its historical belatedness and a fragile socioeconomic base. The elementary moral percepts have become pernicious. Mendacity, slander, bribery, venality, crime, coercion, and bloodshed have grown to unprecedented dimensions. These are the manifestations of the decay of capitalism that denotes the decay of contemporary society with its laws and morals. The ruling classes lie to conceal their ill-gotten wealth, corruption and plunder from exploitation and theft. Those from the oppressed classes are forced to follow suit for their survival and struggles in day-to-day lives. Those who perform religious rituals consistently are often involved in hoarding, cheating, stealing and usurping the rights of others to maintain their rates of profit. Instead of discussing the burning social and economic issues the media, politicians’ and clerics always discuss individuals, habits and conduct. In these conditions of social stagnation, religious discussions are more widespread. And what is discussed? Were his trousers above or below the ankles, did they wash the elbow during ablutions, was she wearing the burka full or half, etc etc? Are these the real issues confronting society? Women are discussed more for sexual catharsis rather than giving them an equal status in society. Those portraying extreme piety are often involved in the most heinous crimes. But once they amass mammoth wealth, the corporate media and the bosses of society sanctify them. This social, moral and ethical crisis lays bare the extreme sickness of society and the state. It stinks and suffocates the ordinary people that are forced to tolerate this reaction. It also reveals the historical, social, and economic redundancy of the system that shackles this society. After all somebody has to be qualified to run for this circus of elections. But when these individuals from the moneyed classes after lying, cheating and deceiving reach the parliaments of the rich and mighty, they will again carry out the policies that haves pulverised the toiling masses and brought excruciating misery and agony to the inhabitants of this land. This suffering and mayhem cannot last for long. The elite and all its gimmickry have been exposed. The social and economic disaster that impends and the revolutionary storms that will erupt, the edifices of this system are destined to collapse. The writer is the editor of Asian Marxist Review and International Secretary of Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign. He can be reached at ptudc@hotmail.com