Masses must join Dr. Tahir-ul Qadri’s Long March to change corrupt political system
The historical public meeting of Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri at Minar-e-Pakistan on December 23, 2012 has triggered a heated debate over the role of overseas Pakistanis in the affairs of Pakistan. These unwanted debates are a deliberate attempt to divert the attention of public from the core issues of corrupt political system and the corrupt political practices by the corrupt and dishonest politicians to seize power in upcoming elections in Pakistan. I am closely watching the interviews and talk-shows of Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri and am highly disappointed that how corrupt politicians and their supporters have launched the character assassination of a “noble man” with a “noble mission” by propagating irrelevant and deceitful information to dodge the core issue of “Corruption” in the elections in Pakistan.
Let‘s first deal with the residency issue of overseas Pakistanis and their dual nationality. The Constitution of Pakistan does not impose any residential limitation on the citizens of Pakistan whether they live within the boundaries of Pakistan or outside. Today, the world is a global village and every free citizen on the earth has a right to live, to earn livings, to get education, to do business, to conduct research or to enjoy the benefits offered by the resident countries, without disassociating themselves from their mother land. Some of the great revolutionary leaders of the world such as Ayatollah Khomeini, Jalaluddin Afghani, Mao Zedong, Mohandas Gandhi, and Fidel Castro had lived outside their home countries and upon the return to their home land they brought the greatest revolution of their time all for the right reasons.
A person who lives in Sind has a right to raise his voice against the injustices to his fellow citizens in Punjab; a person who is a resident in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has a right to launch a protest against the brutality to his fellow citizens in Baluchistan; similarly a Pakistani citizen who lives abroad has a right to launch a campaign in Pakistan against the corrupt political systems and corrupt politicians to safeguard the rights and interest of fellow citizens in his home land – and no one has a right to question his noble intentions on the grounds of his residency outside the country.
Some observers are raising an issue over the Oath given by dual nationals to their resident countries at the time of assuming dual nationality. The Citizenship Act of Pakistan allows Pakistanis to take dual nationality of at least 16 countries without jeopardizing their Pakistani nationality. In my press release on September 21, 2012 I clarified that the allegiance given by dual national Pakistanis, to their countries of residence for the reason of obtaining dual nationality, does not compromise the allegiance for their home land. The dual national Pakistanis fight every day on the streets of foreign countries for Pakistan with their foreign governments if their governments or the people show antagonism, unfriendliness or conflict against Pakistan. The same Pakistanis remit over $13 billion dollars annually the second largest source of foreign exchange for Pakistan.
A part from exploiting the residency issue, I noted that the corrupt and dishonest politicians and their supporters are constantly assassinating the character of Dr. Tahir-ul-Qardri, a man who has shaken the dreams of these corrupt politicians to capture the power. These corrupt people along with some of our ignorant friends are accusing Dr. Qadri for derailing democracy, interrupting elections and over-ruling the authority of parliament and judiciary. I am shocked how these people can mis-interpret the current democracy in Pakistan which is nothing but a fraud against the people of Pakistan. The two major parties in parliament along with their allies are making the mockery of democracy; as the people of Pakistan are going through the worst time in the history of Pakistan.
I am particularly disappointed with most of our media people, who are unfortunately following the footsteps of our corrupt politicians and spending their time and energy in questioning Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri’s honesty and truthfulness, his religious and spirituals beliefs and his residency outside Pakistan as well as the timings of his Mission. Towing the old and obsolete thinking, they are trying to link his noble Mission to a Western conspiracy, self fulfillment and proxy war for the benefit of a third party which nobody knows who that party is. We as a nation have lost our Faith and Trust in honesty and Faithfulness by living in a corrupt culture as our mind always goes to negative aspects of any issue.
Let me first clear the air by stating that I do not personally know Dr. Tahir-ul Qadri, I have listened to some of his speeches on Islam and his religious beliefs but have never met him, never spoke to him in person or over the telephone and never attended any of his meetings or lectures. My only relation with him is that he is a man who has stood up against the “Corruption” which the mother of all ills in Pakistan and I am with him. As I have quoted in my last article in December, 2012, that the democracy under corrupt politicians is a fraud against the people of Pakistan. And I commend Dr. Qadri on his wisdom and courage to take the Bull (Corruption) by the horn and with the support of millions of people nib this “Azab” into the bud.
For those people who are assassinating Dr. Qadri’s character, I must add that from his background check up I believe he is 200% honest than all our politicians together leaving a few of them; his mission is noble and free from all political and non-political influences from internal or external sources, his slogan “save the state not the politics” is timely and is the need of the day. His wisdom to correct the political system to deter the corrupt politicians from capturing the power is “holy” and his “Long March” to Islamabad with millions of people to force the administration to reform electoral system before the elections is truly justified.
Dr. Qadri is the voice of millions of people in Pakistan who are crushed under the corrupt rule with no law and order, no jobs, no safety, no hope. He is a warrior who stood up to save the lives of people from cruel forces who have killed thousand and thousand people across our land in target killings, in sectarian killings, in ram some killings, and God knows what other killings, of innocent people. Dr. Qardi’s Mission is simple to take the support of masses and force the Government to set-up an honest and independent body that can introduce electoral reforms before the elections to pave the way for free and fair elections in Pakistan. He is not against the democracy, he is not against elections and he is not a candidate for any position in the interim government or a candidate in the upcoming elections. He, and I am sure all of us, want the honest and capable people to be elected in a free and fair elections who can give a good governance and peaceful and prosperous living to our people.
Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri’s call for a “Long March” is the only peaceful way to force the reform of a corrupt Electoral system in Pakistan thereby stopping the corrupt politicians to use unlawful means to capture power; it is our national duty to join this “Long March” and bring the revolution in the country. We can do it!! China has done it, Iran has done it, Egypt has done it and now it is our turn. We must be ready to give sacrifices to bring once for all a system which can put people’s true representatives to power.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Lahore Times.