Farhan Khan will contest elections from K-P on MQM ticket. PHOTO: EXPRESS
As political parties in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and FATA are awarding party tickets to well-off people, feudal lords and industrialists, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement has fielded candidates from a humble background, says a party candidate from the region.
Farhad Khan – an auto-rickshaw driver in Shabqadar tehsil of Charsadda – has been awarded an MQM ticket to run for PK-22. He has submitted his nomination papers to the returning officer. “I used to drive a cab in Karachi where I was inspired by the MQM’s middle-class leadership and joined it,” he added.
Khan said the MQM has also awarded a party ticket to Liaqat Ali, a daily wager at a bakery, to contest NA-8 (Charsadda-II) against Qaumi Watan Party chief Aftab Ahmad Sherpao.
Ali said his party is contesting the election despite threats in Charsadda and other parts of K-P. “The MQM has a strong vote-bank in Karachi – it’s unknown among people here,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 1st, 2013.
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@ Ibad: Being poor should not be an eligibility criteria. In a scenario, where ticket is awarded on the basis of being poor, it looks more like a stunt to show that MQM care for poor. I known MQM have plenty of educated/potential candidates. If MQM really care about poor, bring some one who can bring change to poor. Let not be the case, where after 5 years, the best a Riskshaw driver turn MNA will have " thank you Altaf Hussain for giving the opportunity". He should rather be thanking to the people, not the owner/head of party.
What PTI done is different. A person, regardless of age/gender/financial status and back ground is allowed to participate in "internal party election" where he should prove him self worth of ticket. There may be some loop holes in internal party election here there but it will eventually improves by time. And to answer your comment on old face, yes it is partially true. PTI have 200+ through out Pakistan. Not all of them are "old faces". And ff the"old faces" do not perform, they would not win internal party election for next term for sure and even Imran khan cant do any thing about this.
@Funny Politician: Copying PTI?? since when bro. PTI have'nt given any seat to poor person! You will see the OLD Faces only.. i.e javed hashmi, SMQ Arif Alvi etc
@Muslim Leaguer: Dear Muslim Leaguer MQM sent a GANNAY k JUICE Waala in Sindh Assembly from Hyderabad,Sindh!
@ Syedpk : Please read the article again. They are "awarded" tickets by MQM. They did not earn it through internal party election.
@ss i cannot believe if you are joking or just being simple yourself. but in any case FYI (for your information) In Nazimabad there are more capable and willing for the role. in gulshan there are hundreds. being said that, dont confuse yourself that in charsaddah only he is capable- there maybe more, but not willing.
Also don't confuse yourself, that there are many willing people in Patoki Punjab, but they are not capable or not full filling merit.
For you further information, nobody can have an mna/mpa ticket unless he is an active member of fikhri nishist- for last 2 consecutive year (a thought provoking-education based-local based-gathering, lecturars are elders of the community or selected by participants)
just being a party member- or apmso member wont win you the nomination for the ticket.
To all PTI trolls, please use google. type www.google.com, on tabs click news, then on panel on right find archives, select date ranges from 1986 till date. and type MQM TICKET.
You can even type Karachi unrest- change the date range 1950-1986. And you will be blown away. Because your state of mind is still captivated by PTV news...and is not moving in forward directions. Peace out
@ ss, being a rickshaw driver is not one of the factors of awarding the ticket. The factors are : sincerity, education, uncorrupt background, the length of party service (compared to other members of the same constituency), and a pre-condition that he/she will serve the constituency if elected.
Being rickshaw driver, baker, businessman, teacher or monghphalyy wala is irrelevant for selection.
@Syedpk: how about giving ticket to any rickshaw driver in Nazimabad or Gulshan Karachi?
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xynp8nwife-of-rickshaw-driver-razia-bibi-gets-mqm-s-ticket-for-pp169-punjabnews#.UVpUTJNJOlo
I am very pleased to read that MQM has given tickets to ricksha driver and a worker. There is not a single party in Pakistan who ever think about poor and middle class. MQM is the only party of educated middle and poor class. We must support its vision to give powers to more than 95% of populatin. Other partties are giving tickets to 5% of population of rich,jagirdars,waderas and industrialist. We ust open our mind and say if some party do a good thing irrespective of ethenic background.
@ Funny Politician, MQM has been doing this for last 20 years, its PTI who copied MQM not the otherway round. Just because you chose to ignore mqm related news back then doesnt mean it didnt happen.
@ Anonymous, He is not uneducated, MQM doesnt give ticket to uneducated.
I love how people are applauding Altaf's decision. Are you crazy or just plain inept? It's a sign of tokenism... just to say that they've done something on paper. The party has no vote-bank in the area and it massively unknown. It's an obviously a lost elections- when the person doesn't even have a chance why applaud him? It's just pure gimmickry.
This is a Pathetic attempt to copy PTI. If you really want to bring rikshaw driver on top,call for an internal party election and then Altaf should leave his beloved seat and participate in internal party election as a regular candidate in Pakistan (not London,UK). Other wise MQM have plenty of educated worker with in party which Altaf can nominate, who can play a better role in development.
@anonymous For you the assembly only meant for Feudals educated elite and the Un educated poor only destined to vote for them and remain Poor Ibn e Poor Ibn e Poor?
Thats called cannon fodder. They just want to make someone stand where they have no option of winning. Lets see them field a rickshaw driver with no resources in nazimabad.
If Altaf Hussain is sincere in his thoughts then why doesn't he award ticket to any rickshaw/taxi/bus driver in Karachi where MQM has a stronghold due to its ethnic base??
@anonymous: Do you know him or you just making a judgment because of his social status ?
Absolutely ridiculous ... Why would any party want to bring in poor uneducated people with no exposure and vision?
Salute !
This is the philosophy of Altaf Hussain "to bring new middle class people in the parliament"