A system without effective LG institutions is no democracy: Khurram Nawaz Gandapur

Addressing a local government workers convention held in Layyah, PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur has said that the current system is the enemy of prosperity and national security. He said that the system has nurtured the mafias. Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri had warned that the system was so thoroughly corrupt that even the well-meaning people would not be able to make any difference. He said the time has come to get rid of this rotten and outdated system. He said that the system that has deprived the people of their constitutional right to vote doesn't deserve to be called democratic. He said that skyrocketing inflation and unemployment are forcing the people to commit suicides.

President of PAT South Punjab Mian Noor Ahmed Sahu, while addressing the workers convention, said that whichever government comes to power in the name of democracy attacks the local government institutions first of all. The funds are snatched from the local representatives and placed at the mercy of the government officials. He said that democracy is all about the distribution of resources and power, adding that the current system in which the power and resources of local government institutions are not devolved is ironically called democracy.

Speaking at the workers convention, Secretary Coordination Arif Chaudhry said that keeping the people deprived of the right to elect their local leaders is an act of great disenfranchisement. He said that whatever claims the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf made with reference to strengthening the local government institutions, it has not fulfilled any of them.

Provincial General Secretary Iftikhar Qureshi Advocate said in his speech that Pakistan Awami Tehreek held a peaceful protest to seek justice for the families of the martyrs of Model Town tragedy. He said that we were accused and defamed then. He asked those who levelled baseless allegations to tell the nation as to why armed gangs are gathering in front of Parliament today and why is the show being staged on the roads instead of talking about the issues in Parliament.

Provincial organiser Chaudhry Qamar Abbas Dhool said in his talk that only Pakistan Awami Tehreek has the educated representatives who have the passion to serve the people of Pakistan. He said that if we get a chance in the local government elections, we will turn every union council into a model council. He said that it is our commitment that the funds of the union council will be spent on the welfare of the people of that council as well as on public welfare schemes of that area.

Rao Arif Rizvi said that the perpetrators of Model Town tragedy are spending their ill-gotten money like water to foment in anarchy and chaos in the country.

Those who addressed the workers convention held under the banner of PAT Layyah included Mahr Anwar Thind, Dr Mahmood-ul-Hassan Mustafai, Chaudhry Ali Raza Natt, district president Sayyid Inamullah Shah Gillani, district General Secretary Khizer Hayat Dhool, Sheikh Tahir Suleman, Chaudhry Shahid Arain, Syed Saqalain Gillani, Saeed Ahmad Khan, Nazkat Garwan, Master Allah Ditta, Allama Waseem Faizi, Syed Nayyar Abbas Kazmi, Haji Muhammad Mansha, Rashid Mahmood Bhutta, Prof Waqas Shahid, Shahid Saleem Chishti, Khawaja Javed, and others.

Khurram Nawaz Gandapur was warmly received on his arrival in Layyah. The PAT leaders showered rose petals on the central leaders. They offered Friday prayers in the central mosque at Chowk Azam. A large number of people shook hands with Khurram Nawaz Gandapur and welcomed him to South Punjab.

PAT Secretary General also held a meeting with students of a local seminary working under the banner of Nizam-ul-Madaris Pakistan. He said that Nizam-ul-Madaris Pakistan is bringing about a new educational revolution in the light of Shaykh-ul-Islam's vision and its new curriculum.