BATKHELA: Jamaat-i-Islami leader Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan has said that rulers should explain why navy warship has been sent to the Red Sea.

“If its purpose is to protect Israel from attacks by Yemeni and Houthi tribes, then we cannot allow it under any circumstances. It is a matter of shame for the Muslim Ummah,” he told a workers’ convention here.

He said that caretaker government should ensure free and fair elections on February 8 as per the decision of Election Commission of Pakistan and Supreme Court instead of making such decisions.

About the resolution presented in Senate regarding delay in elections, Senator Mushtaq said that the resolution had no legal status. He alleged that rulers had become robbers and extortionists.

He said that running away from polls at that stage was tantamount to leaving field to terrorists and helping them in accomplishing their objectives.

Jamaat-i-Islami candidate for NA-9 Maulana Jamaluddin and candidate for PK-23 Shahab Hussain also addressed the gathering. Thousands of workers of the party participated in the convention.

Senator Mushtaq said that Jamaat-i-Islami was contesting elections to get rid of American slavery. He urged people to vote for JI on the polling day. He alleged that some laws were not enacted for the welfare of poor people.

He added that some laws provided protection to national criminals, thieves, robbers and looters.

He alleged that the caretaker government increased the price of gas by 193 per cent and put a heavy burden on people.

“I am the only representative of Islam, therefore, during my speeches, the broadcast of government TV is being stopped. My voice is removed from the YouTube channel of Senate,” he alleged.

The JI leader said that government should provide a level playing field to all political parties in the coming elections.

He added pushing a particular party against the wall would not be an election and people would not accept it in any case.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2024