LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq advised the country's entire political leadership on Saturday to finally enter into an agreement with the protesting parties, guaranteeing them a free and fair probe into alleged rigging in the 2013 elections.

"I think it is right time to end political impasse in the country. And it may be resolved if all parties sign an agreement with the protesting parties, satisfying them and guaranteeing them independency of the probe to be conducted by the SC's commission," he said responding to the media queries after addressing JI’s Hijab Conference.

Mr Haq said both sides were trying to prove they had not asked the armed forces to intervene. This showed that the masses were not in favour of the armed forces' involvement in politics. He urged the two sides to sit together and find out a constitutional way out of the present situation.

"The JI desires that the participants of the twin sit-ins should return successful. But it will only be possible if the two sides show patience and resolve the issue peacefully rather than confronting each other," he added.

He said whoever of the two sides retreated first, would be the winner. He said the three-week long peaceful protest had also falsified the impression that the Pakistanis were extremists. He said all those found responsible for rigging must be handed down exemplary punishment. "During this time, the electoral reforms must be carried out in order to ensure fair, free and transparent elections in future," he said.

Published in Dawn, August 31th, 2014