SAHIWAL: The Panamagate verdict will have a bearing on the results of the next general elections, says Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq.

Speaking to reporters at Mohallah Noor Park on Friday, he expressed hope that the government would publish new voter lists in the 2018 elections on the basis of census.

Mr Haq, who made a brief stopover in Sahiwal on way to Mian Channu, said census had been inordinately delayed and it’s the responsibility of the government to make sure the exercise was transparent and thorough.

He demanded accountability of politicians and bureaucrats without discrimination. “The JI’s petition in the Supreme Court for eradication of corruption is not against any individual but it is only meant to ensure supremacy of rule of law,” he said.

His party was ready to make an alliance with any political party in the 2018 general election, he said and urged the people of Sahiwal to generously contribute to ‘Khushhal Pakistan Fund’.

He visited Safdar Farishta’s house to condole the death of his wife.

In Lahore, he hit out at the prime minister for his plea to religious scholars to come up with fresh narrative of Islam and jehad. It’s a great misfortune, he said, that the rulers had been misled by the western propaganda.

Addressing the Friday congregation at Mansoora, he said the prime minister should say in clear terms what kind of narrative he wanted from the ulema that could help wipe out terrorism.

The JI leader said his government would continue its drive against interest. “The constitutions of 1956, 1962 and 1973 had declared interest as prohibited and also called for its immediate end. The article 38-F of the 1973 constitution provides for immediate abolition of interest-based economy. In 1991, the Shariat Court had issued a verdict on this issue but the Sharif government has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the judgement,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2017