Tahir-ul-Qadri slams Imran for his 'electables' remarks

LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahir-ul-Qadri Saturday slammed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan for his recent remarks about 'electables'.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Qadri stressed on the importance of making the electoral process transparent and raising awareness about Article 62 and 63 of the Constitution.

“If electables were necessary then why 200 million population was humiliated?” said Qadri, aiming his question at the PTI chief.

“Why were the protests held and commotion caused,” he questioned.

On Friday, Khan had said that winning the elections was the top priority of his party and it was possible only through electable candidates.

The PTI chief had made it clear to protesting workers camped outside his residence in Bani Gala, Islamabad that tickets would be awarded to those who knew the science of contesting elections because change could not be brought without winning the polls. 

The PAT chief also announced that his party will not contest General Election 2018.

"Everything that is being done in the name of democracy is wrong and we don't want to be a part of this," he said, adding that his party is fighting the war against corruption in the political system.

"We are fighting our war against corruption in the political system but some political parties and leaders have adopted double standards." 

Responding to a question about boycotting the election, Qadri said he had not used the word 'boycott.' 

"I have been careful with my choice of words, hence I said earlier that my party will not contest in the upcoming election." 

The polls are due to be held on July 25.

'Qadri imagines things beyond constitution'

In his response to Qadri's presser, PTI spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said that there was a difference between "ours and Tahir-ul-Qadri's thinking."

"We hold the constitution sacred, whereas Tahir-ul-Qadri terms the system wrong," he said, adding the PAT chief "imagines things beyond the constitution."

The PTI spokesman said that electables joined not only the PTI, but other parties as well.

"The basic thing about elections is to keep issues of the area in view," he said.