LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami’s central executive committee (Shoora) has proposed three names for the election of new emir through a secret ballot by march-end.

According to a JI press release, the Shoora has suggested the names of sitting emir Sirajul Haq, Liaquat Baloch and Professor Muhammad Ibrahim for the `guidance’ of members (voters) who are, otherwise, free to vote for any other member they deem fit.

“The Shoora proposes the names through a secret ballot under the JI manifesto”

Members to elect new party head through secret ballot

The Shoora has constituted an election commission led by Asadullah Bhutto as president. Its other members are Bilal Qudrat Butt, Dr Syed Waseem Akhtar, Muhammad Hussain Mehanti and Maulana Abdul Haq Hashmi.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-i-Islami emir Senator Sirajul Haq says the country lacks good governance and rule of law as the government is still living in a world of dreams and ideas.

Addressing the central leadership of the party here on Wednesday at Mansoora, he said: “The plight of commoners remains unchanged while those in the government are fighting with each other. In the past, there used to be discussion on the system of the governance but now new words and phrases are being coined to abuse one another.”

The JI chief said ‘politics of corruption’ had weakened the ideological politics in the country. “In the past, the police raids on the houses of politicians led to the recovery of books but now dollars are found.”

He said institutions had been set up for training in money laundering and fake companies and foundations were presenting easy means for the transfer of money abroad. “The amnesty scheme is also a scheme of money laundering and banks have promoted corruption. If a poor man applies for a loan to build a house or for the education of children or for small business, he is refused. But the known thugs and plunderers are easily granted loans of billions of rupees which are never returned.”

The PTI, he said, came to power with accountability slogan but turned out to be a laughing stock. Not a single penny has been recovered from abroad. Had $375 billion of the Pakistanis lying abroad been retrieved, the rulers would not have needed to beg for help from anywhere.

He said the government had not taken any step towards the state of Madina as the interest-based system was prevalent.

Meanwhile, Secretary-General Liaqat Baloch said any attempt to steal the mandate of any party anywhere would end up in the attack on the mandate of all parties.

Talking to different delegations, he said the government’s announcements of forming some forward bloc were undemocratic. “The ruling style of ministers, especially the prime minister, and their apathy towards the parliament is providing an opportunity to the opposition to come together.”

Baloch said Feb 5 would witness historic demonstrations to awaken the world community against the oppression of the Indian forces in Held Kashmir. He urged the prime minister to announce a clear Kashmir policy supported by the parliament.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2019