PESHAWAR: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq said on Friday that his party believed in democracy and other peaceful means to change the existing system.

He said this while answering a journalist’s question whether JI would take any step for the promotion of culture of Jihad as per the statement of his predecessor. Talking to mediapersons at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Mr Haq did not second the statement of his predecessor Syed Munawar Hassan who while addressing a party convention in Lahore had stated that “Jihad and Qital” was the only solution to fix Pakistan’s complex issues. Mr Hassan had also said that the culture of ‘Jihad and Qital’ be promoted in the society.

The JI chief said that scholars from different countries, including leaders of Muslim Brotherhood, attended the JI convention in Lahore who supported peaceful struggle for bringing change in the system.

He said that system should be changed through democracy. He, however, held the sitting regimes responsible for the current turmoil and armed struggles in various Islamic countries. He said that various groups had launched armed struggles in reaction to the policies of the respective governments.

Asked about the impending showdown between Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and government in Islamabad on Nov 30, Mr Haq urged both sides to show patience. He said that the government should facilitate participants of the rally while the PTI workers should remain peaceful.

He held the government responsible for the ongoing political uncertainty in the country and said that practical steps had yet to be taken to address grievances of PTI regarding rigging in the general election.

Published in Dawn, November 29th , 2014