Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain has demanded a month’s extension in the forthcoming general elections.
Addressing a telephonic press conference on Friday, the MQM chief said the ideology of Pakistan must be explained once by the Supreme Court (SC) and parliament.
Expressing reservations over returning officers’ questions, Altaf criticised the way the contesting candidates were asked “childish and foolish” questions.
“What is the criterion of the ideology of Pakistan?” he said.
“The people of the country are not sure about upcoming elections,” he said.
The MQM chief said extremism would not be tolerated in the name of ideology of Pakistan.
Altaf said it was the Election Commission’s responsibility to set the criterion of the candidate’s eligibility.
“Candidates, including females are being humiliated and discouraged by being asked stupid questions,” he said.
“The entire world is looking at the general elections likely to be held on May 11. It is duty of the Election Commission to make proper arrangements for fair elections,” the MQM chief said.
He said it was regrettable to say that returning officers were asking derogatory questions from candidates and it was absolutely against the true spirit of democracy.
He added that he was not against the rule of law but real sovereign was Almighty Allah “who is the sustainer of the world”.
“The candidates who are submitting their nomination papers are followers of Allah and His Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), so their patriotism can’t be challenged at any cost,” Altaf said.
He said delimitation of constituencies in Karachi was only to disturb the vote bank of the MQM that was real representative of the people.
He said that some secret forces were hatching conspiracies to delay general elections for their vested interests. Such tactics were tantamount to sabotaging the electoral process, Altaf added.