Pakistan Awami Tehreek
The 'Pakistan Awami Tehrik (Urdu: پاکستان عوامی تحریک) means (Pakistan People's Movement) is the political wing of Minhaj ul Quran International. The founder and chairman of the party is Shaykh ul Islam Dr. Muhammad Tahir ul Qadri. In 1990, Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) participated in the national elections just one year after it was founded. In 1991, PAT and TNFJ (Tehrik-e-Nifas-e-Fiqh-e-Jafria A shia political group) now known as Tehrik-e-Jafria signed a Communique of Unity to promote social and religious harmony. In another move, PAT for the first time in the political history of Pakistan, introduced an idea of "working relationship" between the three national political forces, PAT, TNFJ and Tehreek-e-Istaqlal.
From 1989 to 1993, Qadri continuously worked as an opposition leader tying to indicate the government's mistakes and to suggest ways for improving the situation in the political, educational, and economical fields. In 1992, he presented a complete working plan for interest-free banking in Pakistan covering all kinds of national and international transaction which was recognized and appreciated by all sections of the society including industrial and banking professionals.Citation Needed PAT offices were also opened in major foreign countries. [1]
At the general elections on 20 October 2002, Qadri was elected as an MNA (Member of the National Assembly) of his Lahore constituent. [2] [3]
On 29 November 2004, Qadri announced his resignation as a Member of the National Assembly.[4] Explaining his resignation he cited the President's broken promises, political corruption and blackmailing, the undemocratic system, institutional inabilities, failures of accountability, the sabotage of National Assembly, global issues including Pakistan-US relations, international terrorism and US global domination, Israeli aggression, the Iraq war, Islamabad-Delhi relations including the Kashmir dispute and Pakistan-Afghanistan relations. His 41-page resignation statement is available online to read.[5]
The party decided to boycott the Pakistani general election, 2008[6]
In a January 2011 address to a meeting of MQI’s Majlis-e-Shura in Lahore, Qadri stated that the current political system of Pakistan protects a 3% ruling elite, while the 97%, who are mainly poor people, have effectively become slaves of this corrupt political system.[7] [8]
Qadri is still influential in Pakistani politics. On 6 October 2011, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered action on Karachi violence after the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took a suo motu notice in response to the appeal of Dr Tahir ul Qadri.[9][10]
References
- ↑ Pakistan Awami Tehreek France
- ↑ Pakistan Elections Results 2002
- ↑ Tahir ul Qadri Ex-MNA in Pakistan
- ↑ Qadri sends 41-page resignation to speaker
- ↑ Statement of Resignation from The National Assembly
- ↑ Pakistan Awami Tehrik
- ↑ Present system backs powerful elite
- ↑ Tahir ul Qadri condemns governing setup
- ↑ Present system backs powerful elite
- ↑ Pak court orders action on Karachi violence
