TIMERGARA: Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq on Monday claimed that some hidden elements were conspiring to get the 1973 Constitution abolished, as it had declared Ahmadis as non-Muslims.

Addressing a public meeting at Khazana here after inaugurating a government higher secondary school, the JI chief said that leaders of Jamaat-i-Islami were being hanged in Bangladesh but the Pakistani government kept a criminal silence over the executions.

He demanded of the prime minister to take up the issue with the Bangladeshi government.

Sirajul Haq said that the country was passing through a critical period and it was need of the hour that the nation stood united to steer the country out of the quagmire. “The situation in Islamabad is still not stable,” he said, adding the government should speed up electoral reforms process.

The JI leader said that political jirga played vital role in resolving political impasse in Islamabad during the last two months.

Sirajul Haq claimed that the nation needed Sharia where every citizen had equal rights and duties and led a peaceful and prosperous life.

He said the JI’s three-day congregation at Lahore on Nov 21 would prove as the first step towards implementation of Sharia in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, the JI chief along with provincial minister for finance Muzafar Syed inaugurated development projects of road repair, water supply schemes and electrification of villages worth Rs10 million.

TEACHERS’ PROMOTION: District education officer, male, Hafiz Mohammad Ibrahim on Monday said that 120 senior teachers of different cadres had been promoted to senior schoolteachers.

He said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa education director Rafique Khattak would visit the district on Nov 8 to give approval to the teachers’ promotion during a meeting of the departmental promotion committee.

He said that all the vacant posts of teachers of different cadres would be filled through departmental promotion.

Meanwhile, the district education officer, female, Zaibun Nisa also issued a promotion order of 59 SST teachers.

YOUTH EMPLOYMENT: Awami National Party central secretary information Senator Zahid Khan has said that the youth needed employment opportunities and real change.

Addressing a party meeting at Hajiabad, he said that Jamaat-i-Islami lawmakers should focus on development of the region as people had voted them to power. He said that the PTI chief Imran Khan wanted to become prime minister through shortcut means, but he would not be allowed to derail democracy.

The ANP leader said that Pakhtuns were fed up with the PTI and JI lawmakers.

Senator Zahid said that ANP had spent billions of rupees on development projects in Dir, including construction of bridges, roads, supply of gas, upgradation of grid stations and water supply schemes.

He said that the PTI-led provincial government had stopped work on some of the projects initiated by ANP.

On the occasion, several local elders along with their families announced to quit Jamaat-i-Islami and join the ANP.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2014