Marching to the polls: MQI may contest upcoming elections

Party’s secretary general says decision to contest elections will be taken soon.


Zahid Gishkori January 19, 2013
Supporters of Tahirul Qadri hold placards during a protest march in Islamabad on January 15, 2013. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD:


Dr Tahirul Qadri’s struggle for electoral reforms in Pakistan isn’t over just yet.


The Minhaj-ul-Quran International (MQI) chief, who reached a deal with the ruling coalition on Thursday – which will give his party some say over the formation of a caretaker government ahead of elections this spring – may now contest elections with his party in the upcoming elections and subsequently also renounce his Canadian citizenship, associates close to Qadri revealed.

“Yes, Qadri sahib called upon a crucial meeting of the Central Working Council to take up [both] issues on Monday,” said MQI Secretary General, Dr Raheeq Abbasi.

The recommendations garnered from the meeting will then be referred to a Central Executive Council (CEC) meeting to be held before January 27, said MQI’s president of Islamabad chapter, Abrar Raza. He said Qadri would preside over all these meetings.

“Islamabad Declaration’s victory paved the way for MQI to reappear on political stage,” he added.

The firebrand cleric will also host a meeting between constitutional experts and political parties’ leaders to find a way to reform the Election Commission of Pakistan.

“After signing the agreement for electoral reforms, we are part of the electoral process. We might take part in elections,” Qazir Faizul Islam, secretary of information for Qadri’s charity, told Reuters, adding however that Qadri had no ambitions to become prime minister.

Over 0.8 million workers, who are eligible to vote, are registered with MQI, Abbasi said, adding that the organisation had around 2.5 million members across the country. MQI is also generating funds worth over Rs1.5 billion annually as the administration receives 50 rupees from each worker monthly, the secretary general added.

Furthermore, Qadri will also discuss possible alliance options with other likeminded parties in the upcoming polls. “Alliance with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf will be a great choice for us in Punjab and Muttahida Qaumi Movement in Sindh – if we finally go for the elections,” said Abbasi.

Analysts divided

“This is a welcome development. Hope he [Qadri] does not return to his delusions of achieving change without participation in elections,” said, a senior writer, Raza Rumi, adding that he would have to renounce his Canadian nationality before making a move to contest elections.

“After spending millions of rupees and causing substantial losses to citizens of Pakistan Dr Qadri seems to have decided to take constitutional path.”

Meanwhile, another analyst suggested that Qadri’s call for a campaign to root out corruption could also create obstacles and delays.

“Corruption is rampant among all political actors, not just the current government,” said Shamila Chaudhry, South Asia specialist at the Eurasia Group.

“So true implementation of the declaration will require a complete overhaul of political behaviour in Pakistan - a virtually impossible task before elections if they are to occur by June,” she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2013.

COMMENTS (1)

msa morad | 11 years ago | Reply

my dear maulna sahib, we born in Pakistan, the 10 percent population were honest and they

were love you and also they under stand you are the right person, but pakistani govt and

leaders are complete fraud and jootay, can not trustable, one side they are say amrican canadian,

and other countries are bad, and when they meet them , they are chamcha gheers yes men

please do not trust them. I have a lot of experience and pakistani police also 2009 kidnaped

me in peshawar , and they are saying we are the leader of taliban and we are attached with

police department.

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ