KARACHI, July 20: The Jamaat-i-Islami on Saturday announced that it will take part in the October general elections in the country.

Speaking at a women convention here, JI chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed said: “We will not leave the field open for those political parties who are prospering under government’s patronage.”

He viewed that boycotting the elections would provide an opportunity to the pro-government parties, which, he maintained, were already acting on the agenda of the regime to prolong army rule in the country.

He said the Jamaat would soon launch its election campaign, during which special attention would be laid on apprising the people of wrong policies of the government and to emphasize the need for restoration of democracy.

The JI leader pointed out that wrong policies of the government had left the country isolated in the world, whereas the proposed constitutional amendments were also tarnishing its image.

Qazi Hussain Ahmed criticized the government for introducing frequent amendments to the constitution and said the move was aimed at prolonging the rule of one person on over 140 million people.

He denounced the reported raids and arrest of ulema and students of religious schools by law-enforcement agencies with the help of US forces and said it was an exercise to weaken Pakistan and Islam.

He claimed that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal would steer the country out of the ongoing unrest.—PPI