Daily Times

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) amir Sirajul Haq on Monday expressed resentment over the government’s failure to fulfill its promise of constituting parliamentary commission to investigate rigging in general elections.

“It is a pity that the government could not fulfill its promise to form the parliamentary commission by September 12,” he said while talking to the media in Islamabad after attending President Arif Alvi’s address to joint sitting of the parliament.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif in August had demanded the formation of a parliamentary committee to probe allegations of rigging in the general elections.

“In the history or Pakistan, this parliament was created by rigging,” he alleged in a chaotic speech in the National Assembly amid ruckus and sloganeering by the PML-N members.

Speaking on Monday, the JI said the election was marred by misconduct including non provision of Form 45, slow pace of polling, issuance of results on loose slips, and rejection of an outstanding 1.6 million votes. He said that cases were also lodged against 16,800 workers of their party including terrorism cases.

The JI chief hoped that announcements made by the president in the address to the joint session would be exercised. He demanded a road map from the government for freedom of Kashmir and eradication of corruption and interests on loan.

“For establishment of peace, eradication of interest on loan is prerequisite. The country cannot make development without enhancing the economy,” he said.

Seeking uniform application of the law on people from all backgrounds, he said there were separate laws being applied for common man and powerful in the country.

To a query, Siraj said his party considered it appropriate to attend the joint session for the president’s address. He said the PML-N had suggested not to protest during the joint parliamentary session.

Published in Daily Times, September 18^th 2018.