LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri, known for hisanti-PML-N government demonstrations, has decided not to contest the 2018general elections. His two sons will also not take part in the democraticexercise.
While all political parties of the country are busy preparing for theelections, scheduled for July 25, and awarding tickets to the candidates,Qadri, the firebrand cleric who staged many protest rallies and sit-insover the Model Town incident and to topple the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz(PML-N) government, has decided against going into the election mode.
His PAT party could not yet decide whether it would contest the electionsor not.
Despite several ongoing references against his political opponent deposedprime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family in the accountability court,Qadri maintains that free and fair elections cannot be held withoutaccountability and reforms.
Tahirul Qadri, who is also a Candaian national, has contested one electionin the past despite possessing dual nationalities.