PAT to take part in the upcoming General Elections

Addressing a heavily crowded press conference at the central secretariat, PAT President Qazi Zahid Hussain announced that Pakistan Awami Tehreek will take active part in the upcoming General Elections on its electoral symbol. He said that the parliamentary board has been constituted and the candidates have been instructed to submit their applications with the board. He said that PAT will field candidates both from the national and provincial assembly seats. He said that the slogan of the PAT candidates is the comprehensive reforms in the electoral system. He said that the party is going to launch its electoral campaign from today.

Senior PAT leaders Noorullah Siddiqui, Raja Zahid Mahmood, Mian Rehan Maqbool, Mian Zahid Islam, Arif Chaudhry, Malik Karamat Ali, and Sardar Umar Daraz Khan were also present on the occasion. More than 500 office-holders belonging to the central Punjab took the oath of office on the occasion.

The PAT President said that conducting the elections in a free, fair and transparent manner is the constitutional responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan. He demanded that the scrutiny of the candidates should be carried out in line with the requirements of Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution of Pakistan. He said that PAT will change the rotten and outdated system from within if elected to the legislatures. He said that the system of education, public health and justice exists in name only in the country, adding that the nine years have gone by but the families of the martyrs of Model Town tragedy have not been granted the right of impartial investigation. He appealed to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to play his role in the dispensation of justice.

PAT Secretary Information Noorullah Siddiqui strongly condemned the incidents of terrorism in the country and said that the martyrdom of the officers and men of the armed forces, police and other law enforcement agencies is a proof of their undying commitment to the defence of Pakistan. He said that the nation continues to stand by the national security institutions in the fight against terrorism.

Addressing an organizational convention, Mian Rehan Maqbool, President of PAT Central Punjab, asked the people not to give chance to those who were already tested but found to be incompetent and corrupt. He said that PAT would take part in the elections on the strength of the narrative of its founding-leader Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri.

Noorullah Siddiqui moved a resolution in the convention in which the Chief Justice of Pakistan was asked to ensure the provision of justice to the martyrs of Model Town tragedy. The Convention also demanded of the government to take immediate steps to reduce inflation in the country.

Those who addressed the organizational convention included Qazi Zahid Hussain, Noorullah Siddiqui, Raja Zahid Mahmood, Arif Chaudhry, Mian Zahid Islam, Dr Rafi Kamboh, Zaheer Ahmad, Naeem-ud-Din Chaudhry Advocate, Mian Raza, and Mian Kashif.