People need to rise against the electoral system if they want to bring about
real change in their lives. The change would neither emanate from the establishment
nor from the current electoral system. Those elected under the present system have
given people nothing but disappointment, poverty, dearness and consequent suicides.
Shaykh-ul-Islam Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri expressed these views in his message
to a seminar titled “Electoral system is a hurdle in the way of change” held under
the banner of Minhaj-ul-Quran International in central secretariat today.
The seminar was attended by a cross-section of political opinion belonging to
different strata. The prominent among them included PAT President Faiz-ur-Rehman
Durrani, Secretary General MQI Dr Raheeq Abbasi, PTI leader Ijaz Chaudhry, defence
analyst Farooq Hameed, legal expert Justice (r ) Nasira Javed Iqbal, Amir Tanzeem-e-Islami
Aaqif Saeed, Agricultural Forum President Muhammad Ibrahim Mughal, former Chief
Minister Mian Afzal Hayat, President of Islamic Democratic Front Pakistan Sayyid
Muneer Hussain Gillani, PAT Secretary General Anwar Akhtar Advocate, President of
Focus Pakistan Owaid Farooqi, analyst Dr Muhammad Sadiq, Director URI International
Father James Chanan, Chairman of Istiqalal Party Sayyid Manzoor Gillani, Chairman
of Pakistan Shia Political Party Sayyid Noubahar Shah, President of the Hindu Welfare
Society Pakistan Dr Munhar Chand, Chairman Muslim League (Qasim Group) Saifullah
Saif, MQM Leader S.k. Trassler, former Parliamentarian Ms Mahnaz Rafi, and leader
of the freedom movement Barrister Yousaf Akhtar.
Speaking on the occasion, PAT President Faiz-ur-Rehman Durrani said that Pakistan
was standing at a critical juncture and the present electoral system was pushing
it into a blind alley. This system, he said, was the major hurdle in the way of
emergence of representative leadership. He underlined the need of a sustained struggle
against the electoral system.
Renowned legal expert Justice (r ) Nasira Javed Iqbal said that Pakistan could
not afford bloody revolution. She underlined the need of awakening the nation and
said that economic independence was required to take bold decisions.
In his remarks at the seminar, Dr Raheeq Abbasi said that the electoral system
was the major flaw of the politics. He said that MQI’s message of sending this system
packing was part of public awareness campaign, which was reaching every home in
the country. He said that the people would continue to fall victim to the oppression
of the landlords, capitalists and industrialists as long as the system was not changed.
PTI leader Ijaz Chaudhry said that real change occurs when people’s hearts and
minds accept change. He said that the change was the on the cards and the people
of Pakistan would have to elect true representatives.
Ms Mahnaz Rafi said that the independence of Election Commission was the need
of the hour. She said that such a system of elections should be worked out which
paved the way for emergence of leadership from the middle class.
Spokesperson of PAT G.M. Malik said that the foundations of the country were
being undermined for last 64 years. He said that there was a need to foil the conspiracies
against the country through unity.
Tanzeem-e-Islami Aaqif Saeed, Agricultural Forum President Muhammad Ibrahim Mughal,
former Chief Minister Mian Afzal Hayat, President of Islamic Democratic Front Pakistan
Sayyid Muneer Hussain Gillani, PAT Secretary General Anwar Akhtar Advocate, President
of Focus Pakistan Owaid Farooqi, analyst Dr Muhammad Sadiq, Director URI International
Father James Chanan, Chairman of Istiqalal Party Sayyid Manzoor Gillani, Chairman
of Pakistan Shia Political Party Sayyid Noubahar Shah, President of the Hindu Welfare
Society Pakistan Dr Munhar Chand, Chairman Muslim League (Qasim Group) Saifullah
Saif, and MQM leader S.k. Trassler also spoke on the occasion.
