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.