Editorial

The Qadri facade

The real and more relevant issue is why the government is talking to Dr Qadri anyway?

Editorial January 31, 2013

What then is the power Dr Qadri wields? Why has he suddenly become such a powerful player on the national scene and why are his curious demands, his interventions, being catered to at all? PHOTO: AFP

Some two weeks after Dr Tahirul Qadri’s Long March to Islamabad, the farce he began then continues. Dr Qadri’s latest round of talks, with a high-powered delegation of the government and its partners, have, however, run into a deadlock — with the head of the Minhajul Quran now threatening to take the matter to the Supreme Court. While the coalition has agreed to a dissolution of assemblies before March 16, followed by polls within 90 days, as well as a scrutiny of candidates within 30 days, it has baulked at Dr Qadri’s demand that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) be reconstituted or that the distribution of discretionary funds be halted immediately. The ECP, headed by a reputable former judge, was of course constituted in consultation with the opposition. As Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira pointed out, while it agreed in principle that the handing out of development funds should stop, it had no means to impose this on provinces given provincial autonomy written into the Constitution.

There are other caveats. These may not have been pointed out at the latest dialogue, but have been raised by analysts more than once. Is a scrutiny of candidates truly possible within 30 days? Can loan defaults and tax-returns be checked within this limited period — and what is to happen if the complex process, involving a variety of institutions, is not completed as unrealistically scheduled.

The real and more relevant issue is why the government is talking to Dr Qadri anyway? He, after all, does not represent anyone at all. There must be some doubt as to whether the paper signed on that cold winter’s night in Islamabad has any legal value at all. What then is the power Dr Qadri wields? Why has he suddenly become such a powerful player on the national scene and why are his curious demands, his interventions, being catered to at all? These are matters to think about in depth as elections draw nearer. Too many suspicions lurk and these need to be dispelled so that all of us can be assured that polling will go ahead in the fashion laid down by the Constitution.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2013.

COMMENTS (2)

Hassan Niazi Inqalabi | 11 years ago | Reply

He represent me! I need Pakistan to be a corruption free n fair state!

P.S if u dont agree with these few lines then its YOU who dont have any right to speak about People of Pakistan

viren naik | 11 years ago | Reply

Editor Sir Why are you asking questions when you know the answer already. I would like to ask you a question? Would you employ bad and bent reporters to contribute to your editorials? I think the time has come to be bold and be a spokes person for the rights of the ordinary grass roots numbering 180 million strong. At present only one man is seen to be on their side and that is Chief justice of Pakistan The rest of you are just playing games. If Pakistan's ruling mafias do not change their behaviour now for this elections and do not allow fair play the writing is on the wall and the first one to get demolished will be the bent mafia media who toe the line of the likes of zardari and Sheriffs. Just wait and see what will unfold. Quadri is like Anna Hazare of India and once the stage sets in you will see there are 180 million genuine Quadris springing up in Pakistan. This one may be pitched in by Mush or whoever but he is being used by the mighty power to set the wind to the sails so that a budding Democracy can start its journey to the Golden Period that is awaiting as its destiny. Let us see who wins the end game. The vested devils brigades of the mafias controlling the fates of the grassroots on both the sides of the borders or the 1.2 billion of the grass roots led by the Chief justice of Pakistan 'Mein Hoon Na;

Regards and God Bless Viren naik

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