THE Awami League is giving the idea of expelling Joynal Hazari, whose activities caused much embarrassment to the party in the past, a serious thought. The final decision on the matter, we are told, will be taken at a meeting after a 500-page report on the much-maligned leader from Feni is scrutinised.

The AL is apparently giving due attention to procedural details before taking the extreme measure. True, every political party has its own way of handling issues pertaining to breach of discipline. But what one can hardly resist saying here is that Mr. Hazari' record as a politician is fraught with too many incidents of violence and belligerence that needed little elaboration or proof. He tried to execute the plan of crushing political opposition with brute forcea point made clear by the criminal activities of his cadres which received wide coverage in the press. He had almost set a parallel administration in Feni when his party was in powerno doubt a dubious honour.

There cannot be any second opinion about the need for clearing the political arena of the elements who pose a threat to peace and security. This is true about all the parties across the board, as the rise of godfathers, particularly within the party in power, has been a common phenomenon. The political parties should reach an understanding on doing away with the services of the godfathers who are always a long-term liability.

The damage that they have caused to society is too high to be gauged by the impact on law and order alone. In fact, all the traditional norms and values have been almost destroyed by politics of muscle-power in recent times. And whatever is left of them will be destroyed if the unruly elements are not reined in.

We believe the AL's thinking on Mr. Hazari, though belated, is correct. If democracy and the rule of law are what the parties have set as their objectives, there cannot be any place for men with known criminal records in politics.