Political parties reject Qadri's demands

ISLAMABAD: Leaders of different political parties on Tuesday rejected demands made by Tehreek-e-Minhajul Qadri chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and termed them unconstitutional and undemocratic.

In an interview ‚ Begum Naseem Akhtar of Pakistan People’s Party said that assemblies cannot be dissolved on the dictation of one person. She said 180 million people had given mandate to the present government and the will of a few thousand people could not be imposed on the majority.

She said the term of the present government is ending on March 18 following which assemblies will be dissolved and caretaker setup will be installed. She said Dr Qadri is a religious figure but there is lot of contradiction in his sayings and deeds.

She said some forces‚ who do not want continuation of democratic system in the country‚ are supporting Dr Qadri. She said it is the democratic system which allowed him to set up stage near D- Chowk. Had there been dictatorship in the country‚ he would not have been able to take out the long march, she added.

Ahsan Iqbal of Pakistan Muslim League (N) said Tahirul Qadri ‚ has no authority to issue decrees. He said majority of Pakistani people want rule of law and continuation of democratic dispensation. Demands of Tahirul Qadri are tantamount to subversion of the constitution. He hoped that the government will initiate necessary action against the chief of Minhajul Quran.

Deputy Speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi said there are a lot of contradictions in the statements and agenda of Tahirul Qadri. He is reading out a written script on the dictation of somebody. Such kinds of actors come and go but they can no longer enter the corridors of power through back door channels.

He said if Tahirul Qadri has the support of four or five million people‚ then why is he scared of contesting the elections. He said he should get his party registered with the election commission and contest the elections to execute his reforms agenda through the parliament.

Rejecting demands of Tahirul Qadri‚ he said a democratic process is continuing in the country. An independent election commission has been constituted in consensus with all the political parties. No party has objections on the election commission besides the Supreme Court has also called for holding of elections on time.

Liaquat Baloch of Jamaat-e- Islami mocked the posture of Tahirul Qadri saying he is expert of seeing dreams. He would have seen the dream regarding the dissolution of the assemblies but the fact is that the governments are still intact. He said the country is heading towards the general elections and there should be no obstacle in the way of elections. (PPI)