Plan of action: Tahirul Qadri says he will not contest elections
Qadri justifies his decision by portraying himself as role model who disowns and discourages dynasty.
Qadri justifies his decision by portraying himself as role model who disowns and discourages dynasty. PHOTO: NNI
LAHORE:
Minhajul Quran International (MQI) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), declared on Tuesday that neither he nor any member of his family will contest the upcoming general elections.
In the aftermath of his announcement during a press conference, the likelihood of him relinquishing his PAT position increases — he said that if PAT takes part in elections then he will separate it from MQI since he did not want to link his religious organisation with a political one.
Qadri justified his decision of not taking part in the polls by portraying himself as role model who disowns and discourages dynasty in politics. He said that PAT is scheduled to hold its meetings of advisory general and federal councils in which it would be decided whether the party would contest the polls or not.
However, personally, he completely disassociated himself from the election process and even barred his family from contesting the polls.
According MQI officials, if PAT decides to participate in the upcoming elections, the party will replace Qadri with another chairman since he was a dual national and he did not want to surrender his Canadian nationality, come what may. MQI Nazim-e-Ala Raheeq Abbasi told The Express Tribune that if PAT decides to take part in the elections then Qadri will be elevated to the position of chief pattern.
Meanwhile during the press conference, Qadri urged political leaders of various parties to follow his lead and bring an end to this “dynasty system” in their political parties.
Qadri’s political party, PAT, was founded in 1990 and contested the general election the same year but did not win any seat. In 2002 it managed to clinch only one seat — which was his own.
Regarding the success of his Islamabad Long March Declaration, he said that the committee comprising constitutional experts were conducting their meetings and would present him a draft on January 27. He was of the view that due to the long march awareness among the masses had increased.
Chaudhry Shujaat
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain separately addressed a press conference and said that the declaration signed in Islamabad with the MQI chief will result in transparent elections and a true Islamic democratic system.
He said all signatories were its guarantors and detailed mechanism for its implementation will be evolved in a meeting on January 27.
He revealed that in order to avert use of force against the participants of the long march, he had even given the option of voluntarily withdrawing from the government.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2013.
Minhajul Quran International (MQI) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), declared on Tuesday that neither he nor any member of his family will contest the upcoming general elections.
In the aftermath of his announcement during a press conference, the likelihood of him relinquishing his PAT position increases — he said that if PAT takes part in elections then he will separate it from MQI since he did not want to link his religious organisation with a political one.
Qadri justified his decision of not taking part in the polls by portraying himself as role model who disowns and discourages dynasty in politics. He said that PAT is scheduled to hold its meetings of advisory general and federal councils in which it would be decided whether the party would contest the polls or not.
However, personally, he completely disassociated himself from the election process and even barred his family from contesting the polls.
According MQI officials, if PAT decides to participate in the upcoming elections, the party will replace Qadri with another chairman since he was a dual national and he did not want to surrender his Canadian nationality, come what may. MQI Nazim-e-Ala Raheeq Abbasi told The Express Tribune that if PAT decides to take part in the elections then Qadri will be elevated to the position of chief pattern.
Meanwhile during the press conference, Qadri urged political leaders of various parties to follow his lead and bring an end to this “dynasty system” in their political parties.
Qadri’s political party, PAT, was founded in 1990 and contested the general election the same year but did not win any seat. In 2002 it managed to clinch only one seat — which was his own.
Regarding the success of his Islamabad Long March Declaration, he said that the committee comprising constitutional experts were conducting their meetings and would present him a draft on January 27. He was of the view that due to the long march awareness among the masses had increased.
Chaudhry Shujaat
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain separately addressed a press conference and said that the declaration signed in Islamabad with the MQI chief will result in transparent elections and a true Islamic democratic system.
He said all signatories were its guarantors and detailed mechanism for its implementation will be evolved in a meeting on January 27.
He revealed that in order to avert use of force against the participants of the long march, he had even given the option of voluntarily withdrawing from the government.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2013.