Electoral system hindering emergence of clean leadership: Dr Raheeq Abbasi

The entire nation should stand up against the incumbent electoral system and support public sit-ins being organized under the banner of Pakistan Awami Tehreek on May 11. It is about time that the people rejected the system, which is at heart of the problems the nation has been faced with for quite some time now. It is about time that those who have pushed the country into abyss of darkness and degradation were held accountable for their acts of commission and omission. Time to act and make a choice is now. Otherwise it may be too late to rue the day.

Dr Raheeq Abbasi, central President of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, expressed these views while addressing the executive council meeting of PAT in Lahore yesterday. Khurram Nawaz Gundapur, Qazi Faiz-ul-Islam, Anwar Akhtar Advocate, Sajid Bhatti, Sohail Ahmad Raza, Jawad Hamid and others were present on the occasion.

PAT President said that the ruling elite on either side of divide wasted billions of rupees in the name of development funds but could not do any significant work to mitigate the sufferings of the people caused due to worst energy deficits. He said that our ruling class that had been alternating each other in power was indifferent to plight of the masses and only interested in getting into power through fair and foul means. ‘They are ready to partner with Satan if that serves their interests and enables them to come into government,’ he commented.

Dr Raheeq Abbasi said that it was not possible for any credible, truly representative and honest leadership to emerge on the national scene under the current electoral system as it was geared towards protecting the interests of the powerful elite to the detriment of the people. He asked the people to join hands on the single point agenda of electoral reforms and communicate their rejection of the system by joining PAT’s sit-ins. He said that if the people understood the criticality of situation and stood up, it would lay the foundation-stone for real change and prosperity of the country.

PAT President warned that if the people did not act this time, those adept at deceiving them would come into power and plunge the country into more problems. He said that the nation would have to realize their responsibilities and support the struggle of Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri to steer the country out of multiple crises it was stuck up in. He said that PAT was waging serious struggle for durable change in the country and the people should stand by it. He said that voting under the present system was meant to perpetuate the reign of corruption, loot and plunder.

Dr Raheeq Abbasi said that historic rally which PAT held in Lahore on Sunday proved that the party was working on the agenda of restoration of people’s rights, adding that if the nation rejected the incumbent system, it would become the basis of national progress and prosperity.