Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri, the founding leader of Pakistan Awmi Tehreek (PAT), has asked the government to immediately approve Amendment Bill and changes proposed in the nomination paper by the Election Commission of Pakistan. He said that the ECP was bound by Article 218 to implement the constitutional provisions in letter and spirit. He urged the Commission to implement Articles 62 and 63 in entirety so that no tax evading and loan defaulting candidate could be able to get elected to the assemblies.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri expressed these views while talking to PAT’s Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gundapur telephonically from Canada yesterday. He warned if the ECP caved in to the combined pressure of the government and the opposition on this demand, the upcoming polls would both be meaningless and unconstitutional.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri dubbed the objections raised by the Ministry of Law and Justice against the proposed changes in the nomination form as ridiculous. He said that the Chief Election Commissioner should take a clear and stern stand against the governmental non-seriousness.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri said that if the elections were held without electoral reforms, the nation would hold the CEC and the ECP responsible, adding that such elections would be instrumental in increasing the magnitude of corruption and incompetence in the country.