Press Release
No Khilafah = No Change
Democracy's Days Are Numbered in Pakistan

On Sunday 11^th May 2014, opposition parties held demonstrations, gatherings and rallies across major cities in Pakistan, including the capital, Islamabad. They demanded that the people responsible for rigging the election results of 11^th May 2013 should be prosecuted, a new election commission established, with electoral reforms and the formation of an impartial caretaker government, whenever the next elections take place. The same day, government representatives declared these demonstrations and gatherings as a conspiracy to derail Democracy.

Like the rest of the Muslim World, the Muslims of Pakistan know now that Democracy is not the solution for their problems, rather it is the root cause of their problems. Rulers and opposition parties alike call for change or reform of the system, in an attempt to reflect the emotions of the people. However, both of them strongly believe in Democracy and present the dream of "Real Democracy" to the people, in an attempt to persuade them that the problem is not with Democracy itself, but with a certain competing party that is in power. However, Democracy can never bring positive change in the lives of the great majority of people. It only changes the lives and fortunes of a small minority, comprising of the ruling elite and their close associates. They employ the power of legislation to put the burden of taxes on the people, pushing them into the darkness of poverty, whilst filling their own foreign bank accounts and building palaces. And what of India, which prides itself as the world's largest democracy, and whose example has been given to the people of Pakistan by the supporters of Democracy? If India's continuous, uninterrupted democracy for the last 67 years cannot even provide toilets to 600 million of its citizens, then what can democracy offer the people of Pakistan?

For the last 67 years, a game of democracy and dictatorship has been going on, where every regime implements the capitalist system, safeguards American interests and exploits the people. The US Ambassador to Pakistan said truthfully in 2013 that "Democracy is our horse in Pakistan". That is why the people of Pakistan have rejected both democracy and dictatorship. If some people participated on 11^th May 2014 election, it was not because of their love for Democracy or belief in it. In fact, voting was inspired by a fear that democracy would bring something worse than what is has unleashed so far into our abode. This is the worth of democracy in Pakistan! A supporting proof of this fact is the Pew Research Center's survey on 30^th April 2013 entitled, "The Worlds Muslims: Religion, Politics and Society". Survey findings regarding Pakistan says, "Only 29% said that democracy is better able to solve their countries problems, whilst support for making Sharia the official law of the land stood at 84%".

The overwhelming majority of the people of Pakistan want change based on Islam. They want to see Pakistan as an Islamic state and the Muslim Ummah as one unified power, whose people, armed forces and resources are gathered together as one hand. The people's aspirations can only be fulfilled when the armed forces end support for both Democracy and dictatorship. In order to fulfill the Islamic obligation of the establishment of Khilafah "Caliphate", they must provide Nussrah to Hizb ut Tahrir. And Hizb ut Tahrir asks the sincere politicians amongst the political parties to work for the establishment of Khilafah "Caliphate", instead of deceiving the people with the false dream of Democracy. Without doubt, no Khilafah "Caliphate" means no change.

Shahzad Shaikh
Deputy to the Spokesman of Hizb ut Tahrir
in Wilayah Pakistan