Dr Farooq Sattar. PHOTO: APP/ FILE
KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Deputy Convener Dr Farooq Sattar said that liberal parties in the country, including the MQM, are being targeted to pave way for right-wing parties to come out on top in the elections.
He was addressing a gathering at MQM headquarters Nine-Zero in Karachi commemorating the loss of party workers killed in Thursday’s blast in the city. The party had called for a day of mourning on Friday (today) across the city to condemn the blast.
“Through pre-poll rigging, a stage is being prepared to pave way for right-wing and centre-right parties to help them hold election campaigns and then win the elections bringing in their form of democracy,” said Sattar.
“Liberal parties, like the MQM, which want the liberal, democratic Pakistan envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, are being kept out of the elections,” he added.
Sattar also said that the terrorism incidents indicate that either the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has failed in improving the law and order situation, or it is not eligible for the job.
“I ask the election commission, can it hold free, fair and impartial elections in such a scenario?” questioned Sattar.
The party leader also reiterated his party’s resolve to take part in the elections despite being targeted.
COMMENTS (19)
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@YaKnow: hahaha exemplary performance in the last 5 years????
An attempt at voilent and forced subjugation of People"s will. Really unbelievable spectre out of Africa, it cannot be South Asia. What PML N and PTI shall make out of this voilent pogrom, only beget more voilence after the Elections.Pak will be another Saudi but without Oil.
The views expressed by Mr. Farooq Sattar are not hundred per cent correct or admirable. It is true that some of the political parties are the target of terrorists in these days especially before the election day and a general impression is being created at wide level that PPPP, ANP and MQM are the target of terrorists and on the other hand their rivals like PML(N) and PTI are quite safe. It appears that some hidden forces whether from within or outside the country are bend upon managing postponment of general elections. An atmosphere of terror has been created. The top leadership of the PPPP is under sever threat of attacks and even few days before the elections they are not in a position to address public meetings. Worst is the situation with ANP who are being repeatedly targeted with bomb blasts and like is the situation of MQM. However, it must not be presumed that target of the terrorists are, as said by Mr. Sattar, the "liberal parties". It is the responsibility of the Election Commission of Pakistan as well as the Care-Taker Governments to take suitable measures that each one of the political party participates in the election process freely and with sense of security. One cannot blame the out-going Government alone for not taking measures. Whatever was possible for them was done by them as it cannot even be imagined that while being in Government PPPP, ANP or the MQM will not take measures to eradicate terrorism. In case the ECP and the Care-Taker Governments remain fail to fulfill their responsibility, no one on earth would admit such elections as fair and free which is a dangerous sign for the democracy.
Same happened in for the rightest parties in 2008!! So all is fair!!
You are right Mr. Sattar, the liberal parties are under attack but there is sadly nothing that can be done about it as the country is filled with opportunists who would rather take this opportunity to win seats in an election than tackle the problem which is the lack of free & fair elections because of the incessant persecution of the only visible left wing (read: non conservative) parties in this country. But, again, this happens atleast once every two elections, in 2002 Mushy jailed all left wing party leaders so his fundos could garner votes, 1997 & 1990, Nawaz & his cronies did the same, and ofcourse the elections in 1985 where parties were not even allowed, these fundo opportunists, which include the newly formed PTI would rule a pile of ash only so they could call themselves rulers. But, let it be remembered no fundo has ever completed a full term of government let alone won two successive elections, and each time these fundos start screwing our country to near extinction the people remember who to turn to when they are in need of a saviour (hint: its not the fundos)
we are not supposed to comment on the issue but one thing is very clear that no govt. in Islamabad can come in power without the support of liberals if their number is significant in Pakistan as being stated by many people . After the election the formation of new govt. will be not an easy task for the right wing parties .
Self appointed umpires of the game have sidelined PPP, MQM and ANP (all parties having non-punjabi leadership) to participate and allow PML (N) and PTI (both having leadership from Lahore, Punjab) to play. Why waste money on elections let have a toss between these two parties and decide the fate of Pakistan.
"... either the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has failed in improving the law and order situation, or it is not eligible for the job."
That's just outrageous. My dear sir your party was the be all, end all of Karachi for the previous five years, and constantly in and out of govt. to negotiate more ministries for yourself. please tell us more about how you had a handle on the situation before criticizing the interim govt. whose only job is to hold elections.
ok look who is talking in power for the last 13 years continuously shame
MQM started as ethnic group. Calling themselves liberal is actually a contradiction of Party's birth.
I wish that MQM did question this when they were the government. After having years of rule, MQM and their allies failed to prevent violence and terrorism in Karachi and other parts of the country, and now asking the EC to manage this or step aside. Its political gimmickry, and MQM is very best at it.
Hmmm....
Liberal = open minded, allows differences in opinions, open to changes
Right wing = Extremist, not allowing dissent, change not allowed...bla bla
How's this man placing his party in liberal counter??? can he defect???
Why everyone is crying? Commando crying, Mafiosos crying, Black tickets seller crying, ironmonger crying. Fight like a man, do the right thing.
No Mr. Sattar, the reason so-called liberal and other left-wing parties are being targeted is because they sold their country and its people for America's interests and dollar$.
You reap what you sow.
Fanatism has increased manifolds in Pakistan after Zia-ul-Haq has allowed fanatics to come in the main stream line, now it has become a cancer in the society.
Majority of the people are liberals but there views are hijacked by the fanatic forces. How can liberal come forward when neither they are not equipped with the guns, neither with bombs, nor with the suicide bombers?
A new pronouncement everyday. The Oracle is working overtime.
The self proclaimed 'liberal' parties have betrayed the liberals the most.MQM,ANP,PPP have all pandered to the religious lobby in this country.They were in power for five years,why didn't they do away with the blasphemy laws? instead the 'liberal' ppp changed the constitution so now no non-muslim can become either the president or the prime minister of Pakistan.Then the PPP in order to appease a religious party betrayed women over the domestic violence law. These parties should stop playing the 'liberal' card.They are neither liberal,nor secular.
It is very sad to see liberal parties are being targeted especially when you remember their exemplary performance in the last 5 years....../sarcasm.
I think Na Maloom Afrad are involved in all these Karachi Attacks...!!!