BUNER: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq has urged the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and the PML-N-led federal government to end the deadlock as the country can not afford continued crisis.

He asked the government and protesting parties to end differences in the larger national interest in the light of recommendations presented by the jirga of political parties. He said that the jirga had convened its meeting on Monday (today) to devise strategy for breaking the deadlock.

Talking to mediapersons at the hujra of JI local leader Mohammad Haleem Bacha after offering condolences on the death of his mother here on Sunday, Mr Haq said that the whole nation wanted a peaceful solution to the political crisis in the country and the team of political jirga would play its role in resolving the problem. JI leader Ghulam Mustafa and other activists were also present on the occasion.

The JI chief condemned the arrest of PTI and PAT activists in Islamabad and demanded of the government to release them as early as possible. He urged the government to refrain from using force and solve issues through dialogue.

He said that about 40 rounds of talks had been held so far. He hoped to find out a middle way for ending the crisis. He said that differences still persisted over the resignations of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Mr Haq said that the country had been facing a challenging situation as operation ‘Zarb-i-Azb’ was in progress in North Waziristan Agency. The difficulties and problems of masses were fast increasing, he pointed out. The JI chief said that Pakistan came into being in the name of Islam, but Islamic system was yet to be implemented in the country.

Published in Dawn, September 15th , 2014