QUETTA, April 29: Calling upon the caretaker prime minister to convene an all-party conference on the situation in the country, Jamaat-i-Islami Amir Syed Munawar Hassan said here on Monday that elections should be held despite various hurdles because postponement of polls could have very serious consequences.

He made the proposal during a meeting with Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) chief Talal Akbar Bugti at the Bugti House.

He urged the government to deploy troops on polling stations to ensure free, fair and transparent elections and use intelligence agencies to protect candidates and other politicians. He said a committee had been constituted comprising representatives of JI and JWP to work out a possible seat adjustment plan between the two parties for May 11 elections.

Mr Bugti said the situation in Dera Bugti, Kohlu and Nasirabad was not conducive for elections because of operations being carried out by security agencies. He added that his party would file a constitutional petition in the Supreme Court on the matter.

He said despite orders of the apex court, Bugti refugees were not being allowed to return to their areas. He said that even his son Shazain Bugti had not been allowed to enter Dera Bugti. A number of JWP workers had been arrested and others were being harassed, he added.

Later, addressing at a workers’ convention of his party, the JI chief said the caretaker government had completely failed to maintain law and order.

He said it was for the first time after 1970 that the JI was contesting elections under its own flag and with its own symbol. He urged the workers to be in touch with people and disseminate JI’s message. He advised candidates of his party to avoid spending large amounts of money on the election campaign.The JI chief said conspiracies were being hatched to delay elections, adding that there were many hidden hands behind such conspiracies.

Mr Hassan said if elections were postponed a puppet leadership would come to power and the country would have to face serious consequences.