LAHORE: This is with reference to your editorial of January 16 titled ‘A mad, mad world’.
I hold no brief for Dr Tahirul Qadri and I understand that he speaks for the voiceless and silent majority of this country. He wants elections held according to constitutional provisions. There is nothing unconstitutional about his demands. This is how elections should be held so that thieves, liars, tax-evaders, and people of dubious character are screened out. All this requires is for institutions to be empowered and allowed to perform their roles according to the Constitution.
Dr Qadri also demanded an overhaul of the Election Commission. Again, the aim in this case is noble: he wants free and fair elections and the existing arrangement seems to favour the incumbent parties.
Furthermore, there is nothing unconstitutional about his demand that a caretaker set-up should be formed through consultations with all stakeholders. In fact, this is Imran Khan’s demand as well. The Constitution does not specifically prohibit wider informal consultations.
Dr Qadri has also asked for the immediate dissolution of the national and provincial assemblies and has very eloquently explained that an earlier dissolution, according to the Constitution, allows for a time period of 90 days for holding elections. The government and the PML-N are stuck on assemblies completing their terms first, in which case, the elections need to be held in 60 days. It is here that Dr Qadri has explained, that the extra 30 days can be used to determine the eligibility of candidates for the assemblies.
It is your job to educate and not to join in making preposterous judgments.
Sajjad Ashraf
Former ambassador
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2013.
