ISLAMABAD: A delegation of Tehreek-i-Nifaz-i-Fiqh-i-Jafariya (TNFJ) Pakistan met with the Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja on Wednesday and demanded a ban on proscribed organisations from participating in the election process.

The delegation led by Secretary General Allama Basharat Hussain Imami presented proposals to protect national interests and remove impediments in the way of lasting peace in the country.

Allama Imami stated that foreign funding for religious and political parties was the root cause of political instability and challenges in the law and order situation in the country.

He added that it needed to be blocked, and all the groups receiving foreign funding should not be allowed to contest elections.

The delegation further said that electoral politics in the name of sect and other biases, including linguist grounds, were undermining the founding ideology.

Allama Imami added that the concept of state given by Allama Iqbal and Quaid-i-Azam must be preferred, and the implementation of the national action plan must be ensured in accordance with the national aspirations.

Later, the TNFJ leaders also talked to the media outside the Election Commission Pakistan (ECP), responding to a query over the names of banned parties that were contesting elections.

Allama Bisharat Imami said that the details of proscribed terrorist organisations were present on the National Counter Terrorism Authority Pakistan’s (NACTA’s) website, and in accordance with the national action plan and anti-terrorism act, the banned outfits were not allowed to operate in the country.

“When the ban outfits cannot collect skins and hide on Eidul Azha, then how can they be allowed to participate in elections and become legislators?” he added.

Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2024