Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri working on people’s agenda: PAT

President of Pakistan Awami Tehreek Dr Raheeq Ahmad Abbasi has said that the performance of the Election Commission is disappointing to say the least. He said that expecting any different results from the so-called electoral exercise in May was foolhardiness keeping in view the image and status of the organizing body. He said that PAT could not become part of this crime.

Dr Raheeq Abbasi expressed these views while talking to a delegation of PAT (Islamabad chapter) that called on him in his office in Lahore yesterday. The delegation included PAT Islamabad chapter President Shahid Shunwari, Secretary General Ghazanfar Khokar and others.

PAT President said that the new nomination forms opened the doors of Parliament for the tax evaders and loan defaulters and the schedule announced by the ECP did not have sufficient time for meaningful scrutiny of the candidates. He said that ritual of elections would provide longevity to political authoritarianism. He warned that terrorism, violence and extremism would flourish in the backdrop of election results. He said that the consequent deteriorating law and order situation could endanger the country’s security and stability.

Dr Raheeq Abbasi said that PAT workers would stage sit-ins on the polling day across the country but made it clear that these sit-ins were not meant to disrupt the election process. He said that these sit-ins would be peaceful and not be held close to the polling stations. He asked the people to attend PAT’s sit-ins in large number to register their disapproval of the oppressive, corrupt and pro-elite system. He said that those who were criticizing the planned sit-ins were political orphans who wanted to curry favour with their masters.

PAT President said that it was unfortunate that the country was ranked second in the list of most dangerous countries. He said that if the mindset of protecting extremism for the sake of votes succeeded, it had the potential of making the country earn the notoriety of being the most dangerous country in the world.

Dr Abbasi said that elections held without implementation of Artices 62, 63 and 218 would be a cruel joke with the nation. He said that the politics of the winning horses could not secure the interest of the people. He said that there was a need of holding elections of humans to restore masses’ suppressed rights. He said that our struggle staring from December 23 public gathering, Long March and sit-in to mammoth public meeting in Rawalpindi on March 17 proved that Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri was working on the agenda of the people. He said that this anti-status quo struggle of Dr Qadri would be instrumental in establishing real democracy in the country. He said that revolution was destined to happen in Pakistan and no force could stop it anymore. He said that the people would see after the so-called elections that they were led up the garden path.