Conditional offer by JI to PML-QA

Published February 13, 2002

LAHORE, Feb 12: The Jamaat-i-Islami will cooperate with the PML-QA in the forthcoming general elections only if it helps get JI amir Qazi Husain Ahmed released.

This was stated by JI leader Hafiz Salman Butt at a press conference held here on Tuesday.

He said the PML-QA had contacted the JI for making an electoral adjustment and the JI had informed it about its conditions for any such cooperation. He said the PML-QA was living under the shadow of the government and unless it dissociated itself (from the regime) no alliance or adjustment with it at any level was possible.

Criticizing the six-month performance of the Lahore district government, Hafiz Salman said it had proved to be a complete failure and thus had no right to stay at the helm of the affairs any more.

He said the district Nazim was still a “stranger” for the people of the city.

He said the district Nazim should have taken the lawyers into confidence before taking the decision to establish a school at the district courts building.