33
KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain Friday demanded to postpone the May 11 polls by 15 to 30 days so that an environment suitable for holding general elections can be created in the country, DawnNews reported.
Speaking to party leaders and supporters over telephone from London, he severely criticised the returning officers of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for asking ‘personal’ questions to the electoral candidates during scrutiny of their nomination papers.
“They (returning officers) are in violation of Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution themselves by asking insulting questions to the candidates,” said Hussain, adding that the public has reservations regarding the conduct of ROs.
The MQM chief said that Pakistan was passing through the most critical phase in the history and the whole world was eyeing the coming general elections.
He said that neither could the nomination papers be rejected under the Article 62 and 63, nor could the patriotism of any citizen be questioned.
Commenting on the prevailing law and order situation, Hussain said that current environment was not suitable for holding elections and that questions have been raised on the schedule of the polls.
“Elections, therefore, should be postponed for 15 to 30 days…..and a conducive environment should be created by eradicating extremism and militancy from the society,” he added.
Criticising the ECP’s decision of rejecting nomination papers of renowned columnist and PML-N leader Ayaz Amir for allegedly writing against the ideology of Pakistan, Altaf Hussain urged the Supreme Court and the Parliament to define the ideology in order to resolve the matter once and for all.
The MQM chief also reiterated his reservations over the delimitation of constituencies only in Karachi.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (33) Closed
Apr 05, 2013 04:02pm
It
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 04:20pm
what court should define the ideology of Pakistan? novel idea indeed.It is the group of people who decided to live in a country who define the idealogy of the state. Judiciary is an arm of the state, let us not mistake the arm for the body.
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 04:25pm
"The MQM chief severely criticised the returning officers of the ECP for asking
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 04:27pm
Altaf Hussain, if you think corruption and extremism can be eradicated in 15-30 days, why has it not been eradicated yet? Both corruption and extremism has been the fabric or our society for decades now. How can you guarantee that you will remove these elements in 30 days? Do you control them? The general consensus is, yes, you do. Therefore, you should not even be breathing the fresh air....
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 04:29pm
Opps Bhai. Pakistan is more vibrant than we think from abroad in accomplishing when it comes to the power of the people. We endured the earthquake, floods and security unrest in our cities and thus having a wave of election or its planning by the Election Commission should be a usual business. I would rather feel a slacker if I go after extension requests for the deadlines known 5 years in advance. Just let us play our roles from our backyards in the time frame given and avoid finding excuses if you or your folks (MQM) back home is not ready for this.
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 04:51pm
sorry Altaf bhai - no one on earth can now bring pakistan to stable - delay in polls will have no consequences - water has now cross over the head - only if God send a man liker hitler or a man like iran's khomenhi to rule pakistan, can change the destiny of pakistan
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 04:53pm
Mr. Hussain,
personal questions are being asked in every document in Pakistan. For example; Father's name? (this is personal to the woman). Religion ? (this is personal to the person) and it does not stop there. Every form insists that you fill in the SECT as well(is this not personal?). I am glad you have raised these issues.
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 04:54pm
I fully support the plea of Altaf sahib to drag election by a month to make the election meaningful,productive and according to the aspiration of voters in quite conduce conditions to gaurantee the people to express free-will vote casting.
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 05:31pm
He is not qualified to speak on behalf of a people where he was a criminal as long as he lived among them and whom he has abandoned for 20 years and his dual nationality renders him ineligible to contest elections anyway.
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 05:42pm
Mr. Altaf Hussein, you have no right to dictate your terms from a foreign country. If you are sincerely interested in the affairs of our country, why don't you have guts to come to our country and fight elections and then see the results for yourself. You will very soon find out that our country does not need politicians like you who live a luxuriious life abroad and want the poor people of Pakistan to do the sacrificies. Just stop sending messages from abroad, we don't need your selfish advice.
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 05:49pm
Fire the RO for not doing their job, whey delay the election. I am sure ECP has back up ROs. Some show of support on the 1st step towards democracy!
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 05:50pm
should all patriotic live outside of Pakistan to serve his loving country sitting there by words, slogans. Just feel the pain as Mr. Bhai Iltaf feels always.
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 06:07pm
A Bhai, RO's are following the constitution. Why don't you like constitution being followed?
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 06:22pm
The only leader who has the courage to speak the truth. Altaf Hussein always stood up for Karachi. People of Karachi and Hyderabad are with you.
We will make sure our true representation reaches the parliaments again this time.
May Allah bless you and MQM Alataf Hussein.
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 06:35pm
Pir Sahib, please stay quiet. We Karachiites are not going to come in your trap again. Enough is enough. You have been making us fool for over 25 years and as for yourself you are sitting in England. What kind of leader are you? We have choosen our leader and Inshallah Imran Khan will win the next elections with an overwhelming majority. I see a big upset to happen in Karachi in the elections and Inshallah PTI will win seats from Karachi as well.
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 06:37pm
Pakistan should invite Indian Election Commission to supervise its elections; then I think the elections held there will be more free and fair than they ever have been.
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 06:39pm
He is not even a Pakistani now why in the world he is telling what Pakistani should do?
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 06:41pm
No delay in election. Election must be as schedual, no extension at all what so ever.
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 06:44pm
we as a nation can hardly afford vacations or extensions of any kind....all deadlines aand agreements must be kept and honored
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 06:56pm
Five years ago there was no filteration process and the people got a choice between bad, very bad and rotten.
This time around a filter has been put in place, possibly not a good one, but it's still a filter and hopefully this time around the people will get to chose between not so bad, bad and very bad.............that's an improvementt.
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 07:03pm
Wow, a British citizen, giving "BASHAN" over the phone from London, I wonder the definition of absentee landlord has changed.
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 07:11pm
Kudos for the ECP. They should go further like the Guardian Council of Iran. We need a super powerful ECP. It should be totally independent and much more powerful. It should also have the first power of setting the election date and power to appoint the caretakers.
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 07:29pm
Altaf Bahie.....
come on do you think delaying pools 15 to 30 days will bring suitable environment in the country?
is current day country is to the Qaied Azam Vision?
is every minority have the rights, and protection in the country?
your statement is just to keep your self in the news, thats it and nothing.
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 08:18pm
Good that he didnot demand a 90 day delay.
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 08:58pm
You have no right to say anything , if you are real leader of the masses of pakistan , then give up lavish your life style and be with the people of Pakistan in Pakistan. ECP and CJ are doing jobs amuch better than the leaders who hides behind their puppet supporter.
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 09:44pm
15 to 30 days.....................strange !! how can such a period make the country suitable for elections!!Sir the law and order situation is out of control for years........
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 10:01pm
Asking for extension is a conspiracy. No one should pay heed to this un-called for request
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 10:55pm
Don't forget that politicians have crossed all limits in corruption be it bogus degree or other form of corruption. Process of accountability is an integral part of democratic set up it must continue and ethical practices must be induced in society.
Recommend
0
Apr 05, 2013 11:11pm
Altaf Hussain is right.You can not reject any candidate's nomination papers just because you do not like his writings like AYAZ AMIR.This is a joke and Altaf Hussain has a point and nomination procedure should be fine tuned.Nazar Sayed
Recommend
0
Apr 06, 2013 01:43am
Mr. Altaf Hussein is a British Citizen. His statement of improving the political environment in 30 days followed by a poll is laughable.
Recommend
0
Apr 06, 2013 01:59am
Who is this foreigner telling EC to postpone the elections.
Recommend
0
Apr 06, 2013 05:08am
No Thanks. Why don't you delay your arrival to forever
Recommend
0
Apr 06, 2013 06:57am
His point is valid. if there is one set ideology of Pakistan written and well stated in constitution and some one goes against it then that could be a crime but again anyone can challenge ideology based on some other ideology. yet returning officers have no right to reject someone based on this type of rhetorical question.
Recommend
0
