LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq has demanded that those depriving their womenfolk of their right to inheritance should be barred from contesting elections.

He apprehends the issuance of arrest warrants for Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri will spoil the political atmosphere.

Also read: ATC issues non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran, Qadri

“The Election Commission should make mandatory the submission of a certificate by each candidate that he has given his sisters their due share in the inherited property,” Mr Haq told the media and participants in a women conference here on Thursday.

Seeks election bar for candidates depriving women of their right to inheritance

“The production of the certificate should be a must just like a certificate of clearing of utility bills.”

The JI leader asserted that to build the country as a welfare state, it was imperative to create job opportunities for the womenfolk, who constituted 51 per cent of the total population.

“Society requires women teachers, doctors, and judges. Many women do not like to get medical treatment from male doctors, therefore, the country needs more and more lady doctors and women must be given equal opportunities to get education and health facilities.”

He said it was the responsibility of the state to look after the widows and the orphans, and added if the government did not properly look after the children of the Christian couple murdered at Kot Radha Kishan, the JI and its Al-Khidmat Foundation would take up this challenge.

Mr Haq was confident that hundreds of thousands of women from all over the country would participate in the JI Ijtema (congregations) being held at the Minar-i-Pakistan from Nov 21. He said an international women conference drawing participants from 24 countries would also be held during the Ijtema.

The JI emir said the issuance of warrants against Pakistan Tehree-i-Insaf chairman Imran Khan, Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak, etc. was a non-political move bound to add fuel to the fire in the prevailing political situation.

He demanded dropping of the case of attack on PTV headquarters against the leaders to help promote national reconciliation.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2014