Tahirul Qadri out to destroy democracy: Sharjeel
Says Minhajul Quran chief supported Musharraf’s dictatorship.
Says Minhajul Quran chief supported Musharraf’s dictatorship. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon said on Tuesday that the purpose of Tahirul Qadri’s proposed long march is to destroy democracy. The minister lashed out against the Minhajul Quran chief, saying that he was a Canadian national and could not decide the fate of a country.
Memon added that Qadri had supported Musharraf in his referendum and had won a seat in the National assembly during the military dictator’s regime, from which he withdrew before leaving for Canada. “What service has he done to the nation by such acts?” he questioned.
“If he were to stage a long march, he should have done it against Musharraf or Ziaul Haque,” Memon added.
The Sindh information minister said that change can only come through the ballot, and that a long march can make no changes to the Constitution. He added that nothing could terrorise those working for democracy. Memon also clarified that the government will setup a caretaker government only after the 20th Amendment, and that only Parliament itself will be responsible for this action.
The minister said that Qadri had mentioned terrorism in Karachi, Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa but ‘conveniently forgot’ that the foundations of terrorism were laid during Musharraf’s regime. He added that the present government had brought about a revolution by restoring the Constitution, but Musharraf’s aides no longer remember that it was he who violated the Constitution in the first place.
Memon declared that the country cannot be fooled, and that people talking of ‘riasat and siasat’ should know that it was only politicians who can run and save this country. He added that those who claim to enjoy the support of 180 million people do not enjoy the support of even 10 per cent of the people.
Memon also condemned the blast in Karachi’s Federal B Area and termed it a conspiracy to sabotage peace in the city. He said that the government was taking all necessary steps to curb terrorist attacks.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2013.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon said on Tuesday that the purpose of Tahirul Qadri’s proposed long march is to destroy democracy. The minister lashed out against the Minhajul Quran chief, saying that he was a Canadian national and could not decide the fate of a country.
Memon added that Qadri had supported Musharraf in his referendum and had won a seat in the National assembly during the military dictator’s regime, from which he withdrew before leaving for Canada. “What service has he done to the nation by such acts?” he questioned.
“If he were to stage a long march, he should have done it against Musharraf or Ziaul Haque,” Memon added.
The Sindh information minister said that change can only come through the ballot, and that a long march can make no changes to the Constitution. He added that nothing could terrorise those working for democracy. Memon also clarified that the government will setup a caretaker government only after the 20th Amendment, and that only Parliament itself will be responsible for this action.
The minister said that Qadri had mentioned terrorism in Karachi, Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa but ‘conveniently forgot’ that the foundations of terrorism were laid during Musharraf’s regime. He added that the present government had brought about a revolution by restoring the Constitution, but Musharraf’s aides no longer remember that it was he who violated the Constitution in the first place.
Memon declared that the country cannot be fooled, and that people talking of ‘riasat and siasat’ should know that it was only politicians who can run and save this country. He added that those who claim to enjoy the support of 180 million people do not enjoy the support of even 10 per cent of the people.
Memon also condemned the blast in Karachi’s Federal B Area and termed it a conspiracy to sabotage peace in the city. He said that the government was taking all necessary steps to curb terrorist attacks.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2013.