Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira.—File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Thursday that Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran chief Dr Tahirul Qadri posed no threat to any political party rather he should get his own party registered first, if he desired to contest the election.

“No political party feels threat from Dr Qadri as he is talking of the constitution. But he should explain if he would contest the election. If yes, then he should register his party,” Kaira said briefing the media about the federal cabinet meeting held in Islamabad on Thursday.

He said Qadri should explain his reform agenda to the media if he was hesitant to discuss it with the government or opposition.

He said Tahrir Square like uprisings in Egypt were no solution to the issues as the Pakistan People Party has faced even more serious circumstances while fighting against the regimes of Ayub Khan, Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf.

“Now a working democracy exists in the country, listening to the people's issues,” Kaira said.

Reiterating he said that the PPP formed consensual democracy through political reconciliation despite occasional differences with coalition partners and lack of required numbers in the parliament.

He said though an independent judiciary and election commission were functioning, the power of decision-making rested with the people.

To a question, the information minister said the vague slogans have always damaged democracy and added that Qadri should have reached the country some six months ago when the electoral reforms were being introduced.

“Even now, the election commission was ready to listen to his proposals, to forward these to the parliament for legislation, only the parliament, not the EC has mandate to make laws,” he said.

Responding to another question, he said it would be unfair to drag the military into politics as the institution has already clarified its position.

He said the constitution provided a road-map for the caretaker set up, but the military and the judiciary had nothing to do with this process.

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