AQ Khan bows out of 2013 elections
Says he will guide the party’s campaign against corruption.
ISLAMABAD:
With the general election drawing near and politicians gearing up for the big day, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, who is regarded as the father of Pakistan’s atom bomb has decided not to contest the upcoming polls.
Dr Khan’s decision comes a week after he registered a new political party with the Election Commission of Pakistan to contest general elections for the first time next year.
In July this year, Dr Khan set up the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz Pakistan (TTP) as a platform to campaign against the growing menace of corruption that grips the nation.
“I personally would not contest any elections,” Dr Khan said while talking to The Express Tribune. “I’m going to launch a nationwide campaign under the banner of TTP,” he added.
As chairman of the party, Dr Khan said he would continue to guide party workers through the campaigns he has already launched.
Noting the failure of traditional political parties in delivering on their promises, Dr Khan emphasised that his party’s campaign would ask the youth not to vote for traditional parties such as Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Dr Khan, who is all set to start door to door campaign, is yet to establish party offices in major cities like Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Faisalabad.
Established in July 2012, the TTP has so far gained little political ground among the masses.
Political pundits have predicted that while Dr Khan carries enormous respect among the people for his invaluable commitment and service to the country, the TTP is unlikely to gain any significant vote bank or public support.
“Dr Khan’s idea is not new. TTP is following in footsteps of Tehrik-e-Istiqlal Pakistan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Jamaat-e-Islami,”observed senior political analyst Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi.
If Khan wants to build political momentum he has to come up with a novel idea, Rizvi added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2012.
With the general election drawing near and politicians gearing up for the big day, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, who is regarded as the father of Pakistan’s atom bomb has decided not to contest the upcoming polls.
Dr Khan’s decision comes a week after he registered a new political party with the Election Commission of Pakistan to contest general elections for the first time next year.
In July this year, Dr Khan set up the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz Pakistan (TTP) as a platform to campaign against the growing menace of corruption that grips the nation.
“I personally would not contest any elections,” Dr Khan said while talking to The Express Tribune. “I’m going to launch a nationwide campaign under the banner of TTP,” he added.
As chairman of the party, Dr Khan said he would continue to guide party workers through the campaigns he has already launched.
Noting the failure of traditional political parties in delivering on their promises, Dr Khan emphasised that his party’s campaign would ask the youth not to vote for traditional parties such as Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Dr Khan, who is all set to start door to door campaign, is yet to establish party offices in major cities like Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Faisalabad.
Established in July 2012, the TTP has so far gained little political ground among the masses.
Political pundits have predicted that while Dr Khan carries enormous respect among the people for his invaluable commitment and service to the country, the TTP is unlikely to gain any significant vote bank or public support.
“Dr Khan’s idea is not new. TTP is following in footsteps of Tehrik-e-Istiqlal Pakistan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Jamaat-e-Islami,”observed senior political analyst Dr Hasan Askari Rizvi.
If Khan wants to build political momentum he has to come up with a novel idea, Rizvi added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2012.