LONDON: Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) entered into an agreement - as a first step towards forming a grand opposition alliance - on Saturday that they will join their forces against prevailing system and will attempt to overthrow it to bring “real democracy” to Pakistan.

But Dr Qadri stated that no “undemocratic means” will be used or allowed during the upcoming movement for which all religious and political parties will be contacted. When asked by The News, if the two parties had sponsorship or encouragement from the anti-democratic powers, Dr Qadri said the “forces of status quo” were scared of his message of change and thus cast doubts at the intentions of the real democrats.

“There will be no army takeover. Many movements in the world rose against status quo and same allegations were levelled against them. The change that we aspire to bring will be as per law,” Dr Qadri said.

After holding talks with each other for two days, Dr Qadri and PML-Q, led by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Pervaiz Elahi, issued a 10-point declaration in which the two parties vowed to work together to rid the country of the current “corrupt and illegitimate” government which has come into power through “illegal” means, helped by an Election Commission based on “corruption”.

Although it was stated that the declaration was prepared jointly but it’s clear from the contents that it has all the hallmarks of the demands that Dr Qadri has been making for a long time.

The joint declaration agreed that “the current system has failed to deliver for the masses” and the government doesn’t have the legitimate mandate to govern Pakistan. The two sides tasked Chaudhry Shujaat and Hassan Mohiuddin to make contact with leaders of other religious and political parties and explain to them the aims of the “joint declaration”.

The declaration called on the religious and political forces of Pakistan to close ranks for a “revolutionary agenda” that will promote “devolution of power” and genuine democracy.

The declaration said Pakistan’s progress is possible only when governance is transferred to the local gross root level.

It said Pakistan needs a “people’s government” which will ensure “transparent accountability” and will provide rights to the people in spirit of the law. The declaration said “peace training centres” will be formed to end sectarianism and terrorism from the country and the curriculum will be changed to make Pakistan a moderate country.

Answering questions, leaders of the two parties said it will be “premature” at this stage to talk about resignation from assemblies by the PML-Q leaders.

When asked by The News as to how two small parties will take forward and implement their plan, Dr Qadri said “the plan and the script is ready. Our financial feasibility plan is also in place”.

He said many allegations were made against him during a dherna that his party was sponsored and was working on some kind of agenda but the time proved all those allegations wrong and nothing has been proven against him. “Common people of Pakistan will sponsor us. Those sitting in the government are sponsored and that’s why they are against change.”

When asked about the rise of banned sectarian outfits and their daylight activities without any check, Dr Qadri alleged that the government was their sponsor as it needed such forces.

Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said during his government, there were no sectarian clashes in Punjab but “the current provincial government is patronising many outlawed groups”.

Pervaiz Elahi said the PML-Q and PAT have agreed that both parties will get the 10 points agenda implemented with full force. “It’s a reform agenda and will bring progress to Pakistan. The real agenda is to reach out to the poor people and provide them relief as seen under our government in Punjab.”

The PML-Q leader alleged that just before the May 11 elections, the PML-N leadership distributed laptops amongst the youth to rig elections. He said the PML-N government has no interest with the development of the youth and had befooled the youth.

Chaudhry Shujaat said he had met many leaders but Dr Tahirul Qadri was different than the rest. “I am convinced that Dr Qadri has the vision and passion for the poor people of Pakistan. He is a revolutionary and he is like no one else.” Dr Qadri said the joint declaration was open to amendments and will encompass concerns of all parties.

He said upon the request of Chaudhry brothers, he has decided to reach Pakistan in June to end the “corrupt system” and to launch the movement but he said the date will be announced later. Dr Qadri said there was no democracy in Pakistan and the current government was dominated by a “family dictatorship”.

Source: www.thenews.com.pk