LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami Emir and Senator Sirajul Haq has warned any delay in next general election will “plunge the country into a serious crisis.”

Addressing a large gathering at the JI’s Azm-e-Nau convention at Wahdat Road on Sunday, he demanded that the ballot should be held on time while the accountability process should run side-by-side.

Saying that the nation was not satisfied with the accountability of Nawaz Sharif alone, the JI leader called for the accountability of all those named in the Panama leaks.

“Masses have pinned high hopes on the new NAB chief and if he fails to deliver, they will besiege the rulers.”

Siraj said his party would gather 100,000 youth at the lawns of the Minar-e-Pakistan on March 23 next. He blamed Nawaz Sharif for ruining democratic institutions as prime minister due to his dictatorial attitude. “Now he is fighting for selfish ends. He claims fighting for the sanctity of the vote but he is actually fighting for himself.”

He said there was no room for the US and international establishment agents in the country and added either they would have to return the plundered wealth or flee from the country.

He said the country’s politics revolved around individuals and families and that was why institutions were weak.

Bitterly criticizing Nawaz and Zardari, Siraj said they had allowed CIA agent Raymond Davis to return home after killing three innocent Pakistanis in Lahore. “Corruption and favouritism are the gifts of the Nawaz Sharif and Zardari governments”.

He said the Sharif family had been in power in Punjab for the last 35 years but the people of Lahore could not get even clean drinking water. The plight of the government hospitals was so pitiable.

Speaking on the occasion, JI secretary-general Liaqat Baloch said the mandate of the Lahorites had been stolen in every election.

JI’s Punjab chief Mian Maqsood Ahmed also spoke.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2017