A file photo of MQI chief Tahirul Qadri during a press conference. PHOTO: NNI
LAHORE: The dates for elections and for dissolution of national and provincial assemblies will be announced in next 10 days, declared Minhajul Quran International (MQI) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri on Sunday.
Qadri was speaking to media after meeting a team of government representatives who had earlier negotiated the terms of Islamabad Long March Declaration with his party Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT).
Speaking about various issues discussed during the meeting, Qadri said it was decided that 30 days time will be given for scrutiny of election candidates.
He added that only those candidates declared eligible to contest elections will be able to carry out election campaigns.
Rubbishing concerns related to the legal status of his demands, Qadri said the declaration will be given legal cover before assemblies are dissolved.
Explaining the PAT’s role in the caretaker setup, the party chief said government will appoint interim prime minister in consultation with his party.
Clarifying his reservations on current Election Commission of Pakistan, Qadri said his party has no problem with the chief election commissioner, however, he believes the other appointments made in the commission are illegal and hence make the ECP invalid.
Commenting on the issue related to sitting ministers having access to government funds, Qadri expressed fears that this would give certain candidates edge over others who don’t have enough money.
“This is against the concept of level playing field for everyone,” he stressed.
Qadri said he demands these funds should be seized and used for the benefit of the people, adding that the money should be used to subsidise basic necessities.
Government reservations
Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira told the media that the government has agreed to all demands put forward by the PAT, but has reservations over two of them.
The party’s demand to dissolve the election commission was against the Constitution as recommended by the seven-member committee of lawmakers set up to analyse the issue, said the minister.
“The law minister held talks with the committee and they have sent in their written recommendations which state that the executive has no authority over it [dissolution of election commission]. The government is bound to follow the Constitution and cannot undo the decision of the committee,” he maintained.
The second reservation was over sitting ministers having access to government funds. Kaira said the election commission comes into action after the election date is announced and can only take preparatory steps before that. “Technically, it is not possible,” said Kaira adding that the government had given the provinces the authority to manage their funds.
“We cannot interfere in the provinces’ affairs.”
COMMENTS (15)
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I wonder why the elected government is listening to two-faced dual national? this man is pathetic!!
Being half Pakistani national, Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri has all the right to talk about the country's politics and how the future of Pakistan is going to shape.
There are dual nationals who are still sitting in the Government jobs and some of them are Federal Ministers, why to blame Qadri. He is not one and only who has a dual citizenship.
Qadri is not going to go back to Canada. He is not a fool to spend time in Canadian jail for perjury and welfare fraud which are major crimes. He would be happy to deal with Yazidis and live happily thereafter in the land of pure. If the govt does not talk to him they are Yazids when they talk to him they are innocent Muslims.
Why is he still in the news??? I thought he had enough coverage for the next 10 yrs.
@ Stevenson Your point of view is absolutely correct in true democracies run by middle class honest leadership where social security net for the low income groups is strong and where political elite pay honestly their taxes. Here in Pakistan politics and democracy has become a family business controlled by three or four dynasties whose main concern is accumulation of ill gotten wealth and its transfer to developed countries for the purchase of profitable assets there.
Qadri who?
If Qadri gets success in implementing the articles 62,63 that will be beginning of a real revolution. and surely those who does not fulfill these conditions of 'Truthful' and 'Honest' will speak against him.
I hope this two faced monster comes to power. he is such a clown which will make my days.
Well done. Anyone clean has nothing to worry about with these electoral reforms
shame for the so called democratic govt... a non poltical force is announcing elections dates
An un-elected dual national anarchist is blackmailing entire nation and corrupts are negotiating with him. shame on those, who are supporting him.
So Far Qadri is Rocking! besides His personality, the ideology is indeed an advancement in democracy.
It is ridiculous that a man who ran off to Canada to claim asylum on the basis of persecution , flies back to Pakistan and now dictates to an elected government. I am no fan of Zardari and the PPP but I am even less of a fan of Tahirul Qadri who has made a mockery of Pakistan. He is showing that any unelected man living on welfare abroad can disrupt a nation. Tahirul Qadri needs to charged with public mischief and deported. Let the Canadian authorities make him pay back the welfare money he takes in Canada from working Canadian citizens who pay tax. Shame on this weak government for caving in to blackmail. Tahirul Qadri has no role in Pakistan's affairs.