ISLAMABAD: While most political parties are seemingly at the planning stage of their election campaign in the federal capital, the Jamaat-i-Islami has become the first party to kick off electioneering in Islamabad.

JI candidate in NA-46 Mian Aslam addressed a women’s convention and called upon them to take the lead in the door-to-door campaigning. In a first, the JI has also decided to send delegations of women workers to every house in urban as well as rural areas for canvassing.

Speaking at the women’s convention, Mian Aslam claimed that the JI had always advocated women’s empowerment “under the ambit of Islam”. He added there was a need to give equal importance to women voters as given to the male voters.

Mian Aslam said there was a need to enhance the role of women in nation-building as well as in political decision-making.

“But at the same time we need to protect them… over the past several years cases of harassment of girls and women in Islamabad has increased; we need to control this,” he said and added that this dangerous trend was not only a threat to the working women but also to the housewives, who have to go outside for different chores.

Mian Aslam highlighted the manifesto of the Jamaat that speaks about women’s empowerment and a conducive environment for girls to attain education.

Speaking at an election rally in Taxila, Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq called upon the people to reject the politics of dynasties as PPP and PML-N were in fact playing a ‘fixed match’.

The Jamaat-i-Islami candidate for NA-54 Shamsur Rehman Swati, candidate for PP-12 Attiqueur Rehman and candidate for PP-13 Prof Waqas Khan were also present on this occasion.

He added that both the parties were two sides of the same coin, as there was no differences in their policies.

“I believe the politics of dynasties would no longer thrive in the country,” he added.

Accusing the former ruling parties of maintaining the status quo, he claimed they denied the people their basic rights.

He was of the view that both former ruling parties are attempting to stage a drama of the 90s, creating an artificial rift solely to garner votes.

Haq said those who remained in power during the past five years failed to deliver. He pointed out that these parties distributed tickets among relatives, sidelining party workers.

He called upon those seeking prime minister seat for the fourth time to present their past performances.

He argued if the nation’s 35 years were marred by army dictators, the remaining period was squandered by so-called democratic parties.

The JI emir said that people are suffering from inflation and anarchy in the country and added that everything including edibles, electricity, gas, water bills, petrol LPG and fertilizers have become out of reach of the common person. The country’s economy is on the verge of collapse.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2024