RAHIM YAR KHAN: Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Sirajul Haq has reiterated that implementation of recommendations of the political ‘jirga’ can help save democracy.

Among the recommendations were formation of a judicial commission for investigation into alleged rigging in the 2013 elections and electoral reforms.

Speaking to JI members here on Saturday, he expressed apprehensions about the fate of democracy and Constitution “which can survive only through reforms.” He said some Pakistani rulers had more than Rs200 billion in foreign banks which was an injustice to people.

He said the Indian forces had martyred 14 Pakistanis but Prime Minister Nawaz Shairf did not respond according to their expectations. He said Indian premier Modi could not be sincere with Pakistan.

The JI chief said the creation of Islamic State (IS) was a public reaction in Muslim countries against their rulers and it could get out of control if rights were denied to people.

BAHAWALPUR: During his Friday night talk at a donors’ conference here, Mr Haq said the possibility of midterm elections depended on the government’s behaviour.

He exhorted the government to improve its performance and attitude to ward off midterm elections threat.

Commenting on Nawaz Sharif’s statement that the PTI should first build new Khyber Pakhtunkhwa before a Naya Pakistan, the JI emir said the PM should first restore the rights of KP, Balochistan and other provinces. He demanded that the prime minister pay an outstanding Rs375 billion to KP.

JI district chief Dr Muhammad Ashraf presented him a cheque of Rs500,000 besides individual donations by activists to meet the expenses of the party’s public gathering at Minar-i-Pakistan on Nov 21-23.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2014