Minar-e-Pakistan Jalsa was outpouring of people's aspirations for democracy: PAT

PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur has said that it was on 23rd of December 2012 when Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) under the dynamic leadership of Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri challenged the three most powerful segments of the political elite namely, feudal lords, political bigwigs and industrialists by raising the slogan of "let us save the State, not politics" for the first time in history. He said it was on this day that the PAT arranged a mammoth public meeting to subordinate the electoral system under the constitution and purge it of all instances of rigging. He said that the Jalsa represented the outpouring of people's aspirations for real democracy in the country.

PAT Secretary General said that Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri had stated nine years ago that even if 100 elections are held under this rigged electoral system, the change would not come about. He said that Dr Qadri always spoke about ending the status quo and the exploitative system. He endeavoured to present an alternative political, welfare and democratic model that would empower people and be in line with the letter and spirit of the constitution.

Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said that Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri identified the social, political and economic ailments afflicting the body politic in the public meeting at Minar-e-Pakistan. He said that the Pakistani people expressed their agreement with this diagnosis but the elite got together to conspire against the public consensus for real democracy.

"As long as this outdated and elitist electoral system continues to hold sway, the real representatives of the people cannot reach the assemblies, which means that the masses' miseries will keep on growing," he concluded.