LAHORE:
A petition has been filed in the Lahore registry of the Supreme Court, asking the court to stop Tahirul Qadri and Altaf Hussain from political activities in Pakistan because they are both “foreign nationals and unable to become members of parliament”.
Watan Party chairman Zafarullah Khan has filed the petition, which names the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Pakistan Awami Tehrik as parties headed by foreign nationals. Hussain heads the former and is a UK national while the latter is headed by Qadri, a Canadian national. Khan says in the petition that they no longer have allegiance with Pakistan but are functioning on foreign dictates.
The petitioner has said that Qadri is not a “sagacious, righteous and honest man” – the qualities that a man who wishes to be elected to public office should have as laid down by Article 62 of the Constitution. In 1990, Justice Akhtar Hassan Commission had found that Qadri had arranged an alleged murder attack on himself and had then accused the Punjab government of doing so, Khan has said in the petition.
Qadri, the petition says, is now threatening to bring down a democratic set up. By doing so, he is violating Articles 6, 8, 9, 62, 17, and 67 of the constitution, says Khan. The petition states that Qadri has committed treason by “inciting” the army and “inviting” the judiciary to be part of the caretaker set up.
The petition asks Qadri to denounce the foreign nationality and stop his “foreign-funded” NGO Minhajul Quran to prove his loyalty to Pakistan. He can then register his political party, submit its accounts and hold intra-party elections.
Khan has alleged that both ‘foreign funded’ political parties were trying to destabelise Pakistan. Their efforts, he said, would delay the elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2013.
COMMENTS (38)
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When terrorists can't dare to stop the march then how CJ can dare to do it .......
one thing that has emerged from all this controversy...
the govt & its supporters will now think twice about legalizing " dual nationals " to contest election & become member of Parliament..so why people are panicking now if 2 dual nationals are getting involved in Pakistani politics ? are there no other dual nationals in our present set-up ? so what is the hula bula about ?Acorn Guts, the only devastating failure is going to be for Zardari and Nawaz. Maybe you're one of them?
@HADI SAKEY:
Correct your assumptions first. Dollar accounts were frozen, Not converted. If you cannot given even a small sacrifice like this, you have no right to criticize others. That decision was in national interest: to save Pakistan from imminent threat of Bankrupcy.
These two foreign nationals are Pakistani nationals too what's a big deal?
@zainab: I love your writing in actuarial gramr
The case will not be rejected straight away.rather it will be taken by judiciary b/c ...judiciary has become B team of PML-N
It’s going to be an interesting arrangement, if army has planned to use Tahir UL Qadri against Talibanization. Mian brothers are in real trouble, because as per current scenario it is believed that they are pro-Taliban and surrounded by supporters of Taliban! On the other hand or we can say in reality they are Sunni Barelvis and are followers of Tahir UL Qadri regardless of their differences. MQM & Q league jumped into to hijack the overwhelming supports received by TUQ.
Dr. Qadri has been known for his speeches which include his famous one on blasphemy where he stated that its only applicable on muslims and when he came to address the muslims he says ive made it a law fro all people... he is a lying, misguiding, offensive, cunning and good for nothing,. he will only lead the country further into turmoil and disaster... stop supporting this two timer.
Qadri is a controversial man. He want to derail political system. Everybody know only those parties are trying to join him who always support dictatorship. MQM and Q-League are bench mark of dictatorship.
Why dont we understand one simple thing that Dr Tahir ul Qadri is saying again and again.
He is not here for PM seat or President Seat nor he will go into elections, it is just electoral reforms he wanted before elections thats it..... easy enough for me to digest :)
@Mirza:
The constitutional clause 63 1 C for candidates for election is very clear.It does not effect any other person except the candidates eying to get elected.The same constitutional clause 63 1 C will be applicable to Dr Qadri too or any other person eying for election as MPs....till then any person can do meeting etc; as long as it is within the legal frame work of law & constitution...
great instance by mr. zafarullah khan
@Misbah Wahid: Including Mr R Malik who SC has declared as dishonest in his dual national case.....what else..
I dont support either of the two persons but im enjoying seeing PPP and PMLN squirm over this.
Why no one files a petition against Zardari to ban his party who have ruined the country and why not some one file a petition against Nawaz Shareef who have no credit on ruling the country during his last several tenures.
It is ironic that the same people who were against dual citizenship of "elected" leaders are very forgiving when it comes to non-elected foreigners. All that talk of taking oath of allegiance of another country and selling out is gone after the delegitimizing the election results. After several dozen elected leaders who had moved to Pakistan and were elected booted out, Qadri has become untouchable. I was for the dual citizen’s rights then and I still am but it should be consistent for all not targeted the elected leaders only not the backdoor leaders.
all the rogues are afraid of Dr.Tahir ul Qadri,although he has clearly declared that he will not contest the upcoming elections.some are declaring him foreign agent,other call him last pawn of establishment,a little are of the view that he is sagacious,dishonest and contriver of self-murder.In my opinion,his major crime is to talk about the eletoral reforms as these reforms will disrupt all the culprits currently holding offices in parliment.
Even this Tahir ul Qadri may rule Pakistan better then this political setup. They could not agree on the accountablility bill in the last 5 years plus a lot of corruption.
Since we are part of Commonwealth who have allegiance to Queen, I don't see any help from courts about citizen of one colony ruling the other colony.
@HADI SAKEY: I remember the day when foriegn account were freezed. You are correct in pointing out. Too bad people dont remember and still want to give nawaz another chance.
I would like to know the real reason behind Watan Party chairman Zafarullah Khan's petition. The issue of dual nationality is a none issue, why should the tax payers resources be wasted on this trivial petition. It should be rejected straight away.
A4Activism, above, has hit the nail on the head. The politicians are aware of their actions over the past five years and the over whelming guilt doesn't allow them to support Dr Qadri. They have the most to lose and hence these petty tactics are being used. Shame.
A petition held against someone who is coming to change the corrupt system! So are the people who will be signing it satisfied with the way they are living? Finally a call has been made to end this disastrous way of living, to end the corruption which is the cause of the suffering, and people are trying to stop this movement. Dr Qadri has made it clear many times that he does not want to take part in elections, he just wants to clear the grounds on which the elections take place, so that it follows the constitution, and through which elections can take place fairly. Dual nationality shouldn’t be an issue here. It is not illegal to have dual nationality according to the law of Pakistan; he is not going against the constitution, as he doesn’t want to take part in elections.
I think Zafarullah Khan needs to familiarise himself with the constitution of pk before filing a petition. PK constitution gives the right to take up dual nationality so how can that be a point of contention? Only reason that comes to my mind is he must be scared of the proposals put forth by Dr Qadri!
Why does he not file petition against those MNAs who do not pay taxes?
@Falcon: He is here to change the entire electoral system of Pakistan isn't he? and through what? A stage-in in Islamabad? That might upset the current setup but there is no reform that will come out of it, he craves absolute power through which he can cast the entire electoral system to fit the distorted illusive world of his. Although he refuses to accept that the chair is the sole reason that made him realise the plight of Pakistanis after 5 years in Canada, there is no way he'd be able achieve any of what he claims by simply sitting out and staging protests and therefore the only logical step in his mind is to make claims for the office of PM.
And why would he be so sure to make such massive claims? The cat is still in the bag but I feel this guy has been promised the interim chair of PM in lieu of playing the system to counter PPPs pre-election stunts .. he is just a pawn and the game has just begun ..
Qadri was a henchman of Gen Zia Ul Haq.... He is pretending to be a moderate.....he must be stopped
How comical, politicians can't deal with Dr Qadri's proposals so the despotic ruling elite resort to underhanded tactics. Dr Qadri is a dual national which means he's also a citizen of Pakistan and therefore has the right to political activism. He also enjoys all other rights provided by the constitution and since he's not contesting elections (the only legal restriction outlined in the constitution) there's no case to answer. Things haven't changed much in this psuedo-democratic authoritarian state which political spin doctors and propagandists describe as a functioning democracy.
The only people that are not “sagacious, righteous and honest" men are the ones who are sitting in parliament not filing tax returns whereas Dr Tahir ul Qadri has been paying taxes although he has been a dual natioanl, if there country was run by “sagacious, righteous and honest” it would not be in the current mess it is in now.
Dr Tahir ul Qadris proposed interim set up does not violate the constitution, the article is flawed and the facts need to be reviewed
Also, he is not contesting elections, he has made this clear many times.
fist of al thir ul qadri has no plan to join politics so there shud b no issue for dual nationalty scndly tahir ul qadri invites all politicl parties nd if mqm is only agree with his agenda so wht he can do and if u r taking about honsty and sincerety and sagacity so i m sure there is nt even a single member in our politics who is loyl to his country or public all i jus can stop this stupid leg puling agains qadri shab beter fr pakistan othervise again will we b in worst condition for 5 years so decide ur slf wht u want
@Acorn Guts
Is there any system? :|
In my humble opinion,this is a frivolous appeal and should be dismissed with cost.The Hon SCP will decide the case as per law
@Acorn Guts: Not a Qadri follower, but how have you drawn such strong conclusions? Don't you think if he was interested in being a prime minister, he would have already given up his Canadian citizenship?
inshAllah the attempts by Qadri and MQM will backfire. MQM aligned only to coup with post SC hearing on 7th of Jan. Who are they really protesting against? the govt? themselves?!:P
"The petitioner has said that Qadri is not a “sagacious, righteous and honest man” – the qualities that a man who wishes to be elected to public office should have as laid down by Article 62 of the Constitution."
If there were any sagacious, righteous and honest men in Pakistan, it would not be in the situation that it finds itself in.
Good ooey now how I wish SC take this petition :p
Qadri has made it amply clear that he is after the PM post in the interim setup, and this is no doubt the only way he would ever get to this level of power and influence through a non-democratic selection process. It would be a devastating failure of the entire system if he ever does.
The above mentioned petition has been filed by PML(N) in cognito. The Sharifs are afraid of Dr. Qadri, Imran Khan. They always claim and try to take credit for Atom bomb. What is the use of such a Bomb which can not be used. Non-Resident Pakistanis still remember the dishonesty of NaWAZ Sharif when he contrary to declared policyt of the government of Pakistan converted the dollar account into rupee. Nawaz Sharif and his familyt members and friends transfered their Dollar Account abroad before the government could convert the dollars into rupee. What is the position of A.Q Khan, where does he stand together? These people will never understsnd.