Taseer wants JI to remain ‘neutral’
“We have exchanged some information regarding the situation in Punjab,” Mr Taseer said after his first meeting as governor with Qazi Hussain.
The Jamaat chief stressed the need for resolving all issues through consultation in accordance with the law and the Constitution.
“All problems will automatically be solved if we are able to collectively stop American intervention in Pakistan,” he told reporters.
Mr Taseer said he had visited the Jamaat-i-Islami headquarters to express regret over any unpleasant event that might have taken place during the long march in Lahore on March 15.
Qazi Hussain avoided answering a question about his party’s views on the political crisis in Punjab, but the governor said he wanted any two parties to form a stable government.
Mr Taseer said he would not oppose an alliance between any two of the three major parties in the provincial assembly, but there should be no horse-trading.
According to the sources, Qazi Hussain told the governor that his party had not followed PML-N’s instructions during the long march. He said the Jamaat had taken part in the march because it had been supporting the lawyers’ cause from the outset.
He said the country’s sovereignty had been compromised and the US was imposing its decisions on Islamabad and kidnapping people.
He expressed concern over US drone attacks on Pakistan and military operations in Swat and tribal areas and urged the governor to do something to stop US intervention in the country’s internal affairs.
The governor promised to convey the message to the quarters concerned.
Mr Taseer is reported to have told JI leaders that PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif had been informed in Lahore before the long march about the government’s decision to reinstate Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and other judges and that police would not stop him.
“Mr Sharif had promised to march only up to Shahdara, but he did not honour his commitment,” the governor was quoted as saying.
JI sources said Mr Sharif had not informed them about any such deal.
“We were braving baton-charge and teargas at the time,” said Jamaat leader Amirul Azim who was injured during the march in Lahore.
The governor told reporters that he wanted to assure the JI leader that the government would try to amicably resolve all issues confronting the country.
He said he had asked a committee formed earlier by him to solve the problems faced by members of Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba in Punjab University. “We will remain in contact.”
Qazi Hussain said anyone holding the office of governor should remain impartial. “By coming here he has set a good example of directly contacting everyone,” he said.
He said the country could solve its problems if every party and institution acted within the ambit of the law and the Constitution and made people-friendly policies.
“We want lifting of governor’s rule and restoration of the assembly as per the wishes of people. There will be no need to take to the street for resolution of differences if mutual contacts remain intact.”
JI leaders told reporters that their party had no alliance with the PML-N and it would not besiege the Governor’s House at the behest of the PML-N.
“The PML-N ditched us by taking part in the election and unilaterally ending the long march,” they said.
They said PML-N’s decision to accept the retirement of Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar was tantamount to accepting his appointment as chief justice. “The PML-N took U-turns when it was in the All Parties Democratic Movement and on the issue of the long march. Parliament is not our issue because we are not in it. We will listen to Mr Sharif if he talks to us from the platform of the APDM,” Mr Azim said.
He said his party would support mid-term elections, but only after ensuring that the judiciary and the Election Commission were really free.
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