SDF organizesa “community interface meeting with political parties”

Mandi Bahauddin(Sher Gondal) : Sangat Development Foundation (SDF) organized a “community interface meeting with political parties” on Tuesday here at TMA Hall to seek faults in the conduct of previous LG polls and suggestions for reforming and improving electoral system in the country .

Representatives of various political parties including PPP, PMLN, PMLQ, JI, JUI, MQM and Mustaqbil Pakistan attended the meeting. Kishwar Naheed was in chair. Expressing their views the political parties’ representatives said our election system is formed to support dynastic rulers. Election Commission is too weak to ensure strict compliance of election rules. Wealthy candidates flow money like water and purchase votes. Limit for election expenditure is crossed and the election commission remain silent.

They also alleged political parties for extorting money from aspirants for granting tickets; and money received as fee for applying for ticket is never returned to unsuccessful applicant. Some of the representatives criticized 33% women special seats in parliament. They demanded an end to special quota for women in all forums of Parliament, terming it extra burden on public.

Talking about new LG system they said it was worse as it does not ensure representation of weak segments of the society. They recommended old system to be restored. They also suggested that parties should issue tickets on recommendation of people of the concerned constituency and some method should be evolved to get consent of the people from all union councils.

They all stressed the need for strong and independent election commission for conducting elections for making its process transparent. Prominent among speakers were Jamil Sadiki, Abdul Rashid, Zahir Khan, Irfan Sadiki and Khalid Sandhu.

At the end Kishwar Naheed thanked the participants for joining the meeting and giving valuable suggestions for making election system better. She said the suggestions would be sent to election commission for their consideration. She praised efforts of District Coordinator of the organization and Zahid Sharif for making the meeting success.