Reconstitution of ECP central to fair, free elections: Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri

Addressing a consultative meeting of Pakistan Awami Tehreek, PAT Chairman Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has said that we staged a sit-in on January 14, 2013 against the unconstitutionally composed Election Commission. He said that the then government reneged on its written commitment to bring about electoral reforms, adding that the present government does not seem to be interested either and the nation is being fooled in this regard. He said that the political parties that are cool with status quo because it protects their interests have held it close to their heart. He said that even today the mother of all electoral ills plaguing the land is obsolete and outdated Election Commission.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that the unconstitutional provincial members of Election Commission are still holding their positions and providing protection to the government and legislatures, which are product of rigging, whereas the status of Chief Election Commissioner is that of a show piece. He said that whether these are general elections or local government polls, the Election Commission has disappointed the nation at every level and did not let true democracy take root.

The PAT Chairman said that PAT organized a long march and a sit-in for reconstitution of Election Commission as per constitutional requirements and electoral reforms in 2013 and thus drew the nation’s attention to an important issue of public importance. He reminded that almost heads of all parliamentary parties and the then Prime Minister signed the agreement pledging electoral reforms and conduct of fair, free and transparent elections. He said that the agreement was not implemented later on with the result that today all political parties are speaking on the top of their voices about rigging and fraudulent electoral practices.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that we raised the issue of electoral reforms three years ago and no headway has been made on this front despite passage of these years. He said that the current electoral system protects the interests of the government and it explains why the present rulers are its staunch supporter. He said that unless Election Commission is reconstituted according to letter and spirit of the Constitution, legislatures that are truly representative of people’s aspirations will not come into being nor will real democratic system be established. He said that the sacrifices rendered by PAT for reforms in electoral system remain unparalleled as no other party has offered as many sacrifices as PAT has. He said that his standpoint even today is that Election Commission should be reconstituted for establishment of real democracy and electoral laws should be implemented in letter and spirit.