Lashing out at its political rivals, including the party’s former coalition partners, for promoting an obsolete dynastical system in the country, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Tuesday called upon the “educated, capable and meritorious” people belonging to the poor and middle classes to obtain its application form for candidature in the forthcoming general election.
“The MQM would nominate educated people from Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pukhtunkhwa in the upcoming general elections,” said MQM’s Coordination Committee Deputy Convener Dr Farooq Sattar while briefing committee members at the party’s headquarter at Nine Zero on Tuesday.
“We appeal to the educated, capable and meritorious people of the poor and middle classes to obtain this form from the MQM offices and submit these for bringing in a positive change in the country,” he said.
Slamming his political foes and friends alike, Dr Farooq said the obsolete political system running in the country had given rise to a culture of political dynasties.
This dynastic system, he said, had permeated in all political parties to the extent that major political parties in the country had become “family properties”.
“It is because of this system that the family members of a handful of families have always been ruling the country,” he lamented.
Furthermore, the MQM leader claimed that political and religious parties of the country were selling party tickets at the time of general election in exchange of millions of rupees.
“They demand a large sum of money even with the application form which effectively excludes ordinary Pakistanis from the election process,” he alleged.
Dr Farooq also said that these political parties gave tickets to such candidates who did not even go to the people after winning elections, let alone serving them.
In contrast to this culture, Dr Farooq said the MQM chief Altaf Hussain was the only political leader who had never contested any election for the national and provincial assemblies or the senate.
“He has set an example by keeping his family members away from elections in order to uproot the current political culture that favours the scions of political dynasties,” the MQM leader added.
Moreover, Dr Farooq said the MQM would give a pleasant surprise to the 98 percent people of the country besides protecting their rights.
“We are announcing the release of the application form for the general election of 2013,” he said.
“This form is a trust of the people and it is totally free for everyone who has a desire to represent the people,” he added.
The parliamentary board of the MQM would select the potential candidates after scrutinising all the forms that would be received purely on merit.
“We also pray for the well-being and long life of our leader Altaf,” said Dr Farooq.