Illegally Constituted ECP Mother of All Evils: Tahir-ul-Qadri

NEW YORK: Chairman of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri, has declared the illegally formed Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as the “mother of all evils” in the country’s political and governance system.

Speaking to various groups of Pakistani expatriates in New York on Tuesday, Dr. Qadri alleged that the “London Plan” devised by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was aimed at manipulating electoral reforms to their advantage. He said the plan now stood fully exposed before the nation.

Enforcement of Articles 213 and 218 Essential, Says PAT Chief

Dr. Qadri stressed that Pakistan’s progress is impossible without the enforcement of Articles 213 and 218 of the Constitution, which outline the structure and independence of the Election Commission. He added that holding free and fair elections is crucial for unlocking the country’s true economic potential.

Referring to his 2011 long march, Qadri said he had identified and warned about election-related flaws well before the general elections, but his proposals were ignored by the authorities.

Independent ECP is the Heart of Democracy

Calling an independent election commission the “heart of a democratic system,” Qadri drew an analogy: “If the heart fails, the body suffers from several illnesses. Similarly, democracy cannot function if the electoral process is corrupted.”

He added that traditional political parties fear an empowered ECP, because it threatens their ability to manipulate the system to retain power.

Current ECP Setup is Dysfunctional, Qadri Claims

Commenting on the current state of the ECP, Dr. Qadri noted that the commission lacks a functional head, and its members operate without accountability. He accused them of working “as per their sweet will,” rather than in line with constitutional duties.

He demanded the resignation of all current ECP members and provincial heads, calling for a new setup formed with consensus among all political stakeholders.

“With the current arrangement, the ECP is nothing more than a stumbling block to real democracy,” he concluded.

Background: Qadri’s Political Journey

Dr. Tahir-ul-Qadri was elected to the National Assembly from Lahore in the 2002 general elections. However, he later resigned from parliament, citing his disillusionment with the political system, and moved to Canada to focus on Islamic research and education.