Marching to the polls: MQI may contest upcoming elections
Party’s secretary general says decision to contest elections will be taken soon.
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.
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.