Wajih promises welfare state if elected
Bureau Report

PESHAWAR—Justice (R) Wajhuddin Ahmed, presidential candidate Thursday promised to work for the establishment of a true and modern welfare state as envisaged by the Founder of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, if elected.
“Setting up of welfare state was need of the hour which is the only way out of the present grim situation and to provide relief to the down trodden masses. I have dismal chances of election from the present assemblies but chances in my favor could have been bright, if new elected assemblies are given the opportunity to elect the President for the country,” he said in a reception arranged by Peshawar High Court Bar and District Bar Associations.
He said civil and military bureaucracy and dishonest politicians are main hurdles in the establishment of welfare state. The nation was deficient in better education, health and transport system which has been divided into classes.
He opined that classless education system should be formulated to provide level playing field for haves and haves not. Justice Wajihuddin declared if voted to Presidency, he would give top priority to promotion of education, communication infrastructure and health with main focus on the uplift of primary and secondary education. “There was no dearth of resources in Pakistan but it needed to be properly clubbed as it were presently scattered,” he maintained.
Justice Wajih also outlined his taxation priorities and said that a land owner would be taxed 30 percent of his property bought and sold in three years time. He announced to slash taxes on petroleum products and electricity for the benefit of common man besides bringing marked improvement in sewerage, traffic systems etc.
To establish secrecy of presidential election, he urged the presiding officers and returning officers not to allow cameras and mobiles phones during voting process on October 6. He said by doing so, his chances of success would be brighter.
He argued that verdicts of the apex courts became public property after pronouncement and it could be subjected to positive criticism by the public and it does not involve any contempt in such matters.
He also advocated for accountability of the judiciary and said there was no harm in it if flaws and loopholes in judgments are pointed out in positive manner. “If we don’t do this, then judiciary will turn into a tyranny”, he opined.
Justice Wajih criticized Chief Election Commissioner for amending rules of the presidential elections at his own. He lambasted silence of the politicians over the amendments made in the presidential election’s rules “which is unfortunate”.