PAT Chairman Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri has said that the outcome of the Senate elections has proved once again that the current system stands on the foundations of corruption, and sale of one’s conscience and vote. He said that whatever he had stated about the current system in 2012 is being talked about openly by all and sundry. He said that the matter has gone beyond reforms and incremental changes in the system, adding that there is a need of a major surgery to get rid of this cancerous system as the Band-Aid approach has failed miserably. He said that the people have to choose between the current system and the one that responds to their aspirations.

Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri stated this while talking to the group of lawyers belonging to PAT on telephone the other day. He said that in 2012 and 2013, he had highlighted the perennials ills plaguing the system and exposed its reality to the masses and the institutions. He said that he also led a long march to Islamabad to draw attention of the stakeholders to the need of electoral reforms and knocked on the door of the SC but he was not heard and today the result is before everyone to see. He said that when we protested against the system five years ago, a great deal of criticism was heaped upon us. We are accused of throwing spanners in the way of the system but today all are concerned on the way loyalties have been bought and traded brazenly. He said that intellectuals, media men, and politicians all are shedding tears on the deceit built into the system.

The PAT Chairman said that no one has any words to speak in support of the system. He said that the current system has deprived the people of education, health, jobs and justice; indebted them thanks to excessive foreign loans; brought the national institutions into disrepute; violated the sanctity of the human dignity; helped the criminals reach high positions of power and subordinated the state infrastructure to the ruling dynasty. He said that all have been deeply hurt by the system today.

Dr Qadri said that the good omen is that those who once supported this system unconditionally are speaking up against it. He said that even if we decide today to replace this system, the Pakistan of the Quaid-i-Azam can be saved from the further ruin. He said otherwise all know that the system has rendered the foundations of this country hollow and there is not much time left for the decision making.

Highlighting the need for active role of the lawyers’ community, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri urged them to come forward and bury this oppressive system for good. He said that it was the lawyers who established this country and it is they who can save it through affirmative action. He said that the PAT workers played their full part to expose the system and its ills at a heavy cost. They were arrested, shot at and even injured and martyred but they did not budge an inch from their mission, and concluded by saying that they have remained steadfast to date against the evil forces.