Islamabad Long March Declaration
Following decisions were unanimously arrived at; having been taken today, 17 January 2013, in the meeting which was participated by coalition parties delegation led by Chaudry Shujaat Hussain including:
- Makdoom Amin Fahim, PPP
- Syed Khursheed Shah, PPPP
- Qamar ur Zama Qaira, PPPP
- Farooq H Naik, PPPP
- Mushahid Hussain, PML-Q
- Dr Farooq Sattar, MQM
- Babar Ghauri, MQM
- Afrasiab Khattak, ANP0
- Senator Abbas Afridi, FATA
With the founding leader of Minhaj-ul-Quran International (MQI) and chairman Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri.
The Decisions
- The National Assembly shall be dissolved at any time before March 16, 2013,
(due date), so that the elections may take place within the 90 days. One month
will be given for scrutiny of nomination paper for the purpose of pre-clearance
of the candidates under article 62 and 63 of the constitution so that the
eligibility of the candidates is determined by the Elections Commission of
Pakistan. No candidate would be allowed to start the election campaign until
pre-clearance on his/her eligibility is given by the Election Commission of
Pakistan.
- The treasury benches in complete consensus with Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT)
will propose names of two honest and impartial persons for appointment as
Caretaker Prime Minister.
- Issue of composition of the Election Commission of Pakistan will be discussed
at the next meeting on Sunday, January 27, 2013, 12 noon at the Minhaj-ul-Quran
Secretariat. Subsequent meetings if any in this regard will also be held at the
central secretariat of Minhaj-ul-Quran in Lahore. In pursuance to todays’
decision, the Law Minister will convene a meeting of the following lawyers: S.
M. Zafar, Waseem Sajjad, Aitizaz Ahsan, Farough Naseem, Latif Afridi, Dr Khalid
Ranja and Hamayoun Ahsan, to discuss these issues. Prior to the meeting of
January 27, the Law Minister, Mr Farooq H Naek, will report the results of this
legal consultation to the January 27 meeting.
- Electoral Reforms: It was agreed upon that the focus will be on the enforcement of electoral reforms prior to the polls on:
- A. Article 62, 63 and 218 (3) of the constitution
- B. Section 77 to 82 of the Representation of Peoples’ Act 1976 and other relevant provisions relating to conducting free, fair, just and honest elections guarded against all corrupt practices.
- C. The Supreme Court Judgement of June 8, 2012 on constitutional petition of 2011 must be implemented in Toto and in true letter and spirit.
- With the end of the long march and sit-in, all cases registered against each other shall be withdrawn immediately and there will be no acts of victimisation and vendetta against either party or the participants of the march.
This declaration has been entered into in a cordial atmosphere and reconciliatory spirit.
Signatories of the declaration
| Prime Minister of Pakistan | Chairman Pakistan Awami Tehreek |
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| Leader of the delegation and former Prime Minister | Law Minister |
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