PESHAWAR
Chairman, Amun Taraqqi Party (ATP) Muhammad Faiq Shah emphasised electoral reforms are imperative to ensure transparency and fairness in conduct of elections.
He demanded a ban should be imposed on independent candidates from contesting elections for betterment of the political system and democratic future in the country.
Shah made these remarks on Thursday while commenting on the surfacing of an alleged video of the PTI leader regarding sale of tickets ahead of election in Punjab.
He said the way of ‘horse-trading’ and ‘Lotacracy’ (changing of loyalty and conscience) should be blocked forever through reforms and vibrant legislations.
Lavish use of money for Senate polls in Azad Kashmir and all four federating units has made extreme ‘Lotacracy’, he added.
The party chief continued to say neither any ideology nor program and manifesto but only participated in National Assembly and Senate elections for menting and amassing wealth.
He said members are openly selling, calling it detrimental for politics and democracy. Faiq said that ‘Horse-trading’ and ‘use of money’ has become an ill-omened and unlucky character of ‘Double Shah’, which should be stopped by the power of public vote and law.
The ATP chairman said electoral reforms are crucial in the current scenario.
He added that the role of all political parties is important to the establishment of a strong democratic government.
He urged the lawyers and intellectuals to create awareness and come forward for improvement in the system.
Shah assured that his party will fully support and provide every possible assistance in this regard.
Meanwhile, the ATP chief commended the dialogue between government and opposition, saying that the incumbent coalition government had failed to handle the situations.
He downplayed the prospects of talks between government and opposition over disagreement within the ruling coalition regarding the idea of engaging in talks with the opposition to put an end to the present political and economic crises in the country.
