MQM hands out application forms for free, others charge fee

Party leader says this opens doors for lower- to middle-class people.

KARACHI:

Sticking to their tradition, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is handing out and collecting application forms for candidates interesting in running for the elections for free.

While other political parties are charging hefty amounts, MQM leader Farooq Sattar announced on Tuesday that there would be no fee, neither to collect the application forms nor to submit them. He was addressing a press conference at the Khursheed Memorial Secretariat.

“People from every class, especially the lower and middle-class can now apply for seats of the provincial and national assemblies without any charges.”

Flanked by other members of the Rabita Committee, including Nasreen Jalil, Waseem Aftab, the party’s deputy convener said that this “offer” was available to people across the country, and anyone aspiring to run for the elections, could avail it. “Those who feel the pain of the people, and are honest and dedicated should step forward and apply.”

Applying for the seat does not, however, mean that the candidate will get the party ticket. All applications would be scrutinised by a parliamentary board set up by the party, and then nominations of those who fulfill the party’s criteria, would be sent to the election commission.

Sattar said that his party is the only one which has brought forward representatives of the poor and the middle-class to the assemblies. “By bringing a commoner to the assembly, we have made the impossible, possible.” He criticised other political parties for supporting only the feudals, sardars and those in family politics, adding that these politicians never visit their constituencies after winning the elections.

“By charging hefty fees for applications, other parties are just minting money. Political and religious parties have put a jumma bazaar of tickets, and are selling it for crores.” He said that the forms are available at their 90 headquarters, at their zonal and district offices and also at their website www.mqm.org.

Other political parties

The fee charged by other political parties has been advertised in several newspapers. The political parties are demanding hefty bank drafts, even though mere submission does not guarantee the party ticket.

For those who wish to apply for the seat of National Assembly as a member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, the party asks for a bank draft of Rs50,000, and Rs30,000 for provincial seats. Applicants for reserved seats in the National Assembly should submit Rs100,000 and Rs75,000 for reserved seats in the provincial assembly. All drafts are to be submitted with their application forms on their website.

On the other hand, the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional is charging Rs30,000 for those applying for provincial assembly seats and Rs40,000 for national assembly seats.

The ruling Pakistan People’s Party, which was the first one to call for applications in February, had demanded bank drafts of Rs40,000 for seats in the national assembly and Rs30,000 for seats in the provincial assembly.

To simply get an application form of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, one has to pay Rs3,000. When submitting, those who are 35 and below, have to pay Rs7,000, each for provincial and national assembly seats. Others need to submit a bank draft or a pay order of Rs27,000 for the National Assembly and Rs17,000 for the provincial assembly.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2013.