PAT CEC calls for strict implementation of Articles 62 &63

Pakistan Awami Tehreek called an emergency meeting of its Central Executive Council (CEC) to discuss the prevailing political situation in the country. The participants of the meeting were of the unanimous view that the only solution to the ongoing political and constitutional crisis is new elections and the implementation of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution in letter and spirit. They said that Parliament failed again to resolve the crisis like before and the decisions were left to the other branches of the state to make. They demanded an imposition of a life-term ban on the political turncoats who have held the system hostage.

The CEC also decided to launch a countrywide public awareness campaign after Eid. A committee was constituted to contact the like-minded parties, personalities and lawyers for political reforms.

The CEC meeting was presided over by central PAT president Qazi Zahid Hussain who joined the meeting through a video link. While speaking on the occasion, he said that the present crisis is not new. Rather it dates back to the four decades. He said that unless people with impeccable integrity are elected to assemblies, neither will political stability be possible nor will the politics of sale and purchase of loyalties come to an end.

PAT Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur said on the occasion that the PAT led a long march in 2013 for the implementation of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution. He said that Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri told the nation that thieves, corrupt people and defaulters would join the assemblies if Articles 62 and 63 were not implemented. He said that Dr Qadri also made it clear to Imran Khan that change would be of no meaning without reforms and today the nation can see the dream of change going sour. PAT Secretary General further reminded that Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri had also suggested to Imran Khan to not trust the winning horses.

The CEC meeting expressed its grave concern on unannounced load-shedding, escalating price hike, and the illegal profiteering and asked the government to bring things under control. It also requested the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take a suo moto notice of the price hike so that people could be given some relief. He said that all issues are discussed in the assemblies except unemployment, education, health and the national problems.

The CEC meeting was attended by Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, central Punjab president Mian Rehan Maqbool, Northern Punjab president Qazi Shafique, South Punjab president Noor Ahmad Sahu, Raja Zahid Mahmood, Naseer Khan Jadoon, Rao Kamran, Ijaz Saddozai, Noorullah Siddiqui, Ibrar Raza Advocate, Naeem-ud-Din Advocate, Sultan Mahmood Ch Advocate, Mian Kashif, and Ayesha Mubashir.

Central President Qazi Zahid Hussain further said that those who have given false evidence in the courts of law are also the candidate for the office of the prime minister'. Arif Chaudhry, secretary coordination PAT, said that the history of Nawaz Sharif's contact with the foreigners is very old. He said that Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri had presented evidence of the Indian nationals working in the factories owned by the Sharif family. He said that if Imran Khan had ordered investigation into Model Town tragedy and the issue of Indian spies, he would not have needed to talk about the foreign conspiracy today.