Arain Convention: ‘Allow Overseas Pakistanis to run in elections’

PPP Secretary General Jehangir Badr says community, clan support very important parts of a social welfare system.

LAHORE:

Overseas Pakistanis should be allowed to contest elections and only those who looted the national exchequer and then moved abroad should be barred from standing for polls, said former British MP Chaudhry Ghulam Sarwar at the Istehkam-i-Pakistan International Arain Convention at the Lahore International Expo Centre on Saturday. More than 600 delegates from Pakistan and some 200 from 32 countries attended the event, aimed at discussing how to improve national solidarity and Pakistan’s image abroad.

Sarwar, the chief guest at the event, said Pakistan could not progress without the eradication of corruption.

PPP Secretary General Jehangir Badr said that community and clan support could be very important parts of a social welfare system. He said that Sikhs were never seen begging anywhere because of their strong community support system.

SAARC Chamber of Commerce (Pakistan) President Iftikhar Malik urged overseas Pakistanis to invest in the country. 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2012.