Daily Times

LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Sirajul Haq has called upon the government to grant the right of vote to the overseas Pakistanis.

Addressing a representative meeting of the overseas Pakistanis working in Europe, US, African and Arab countries at Mansoora on Saturday, he demanded of the Election Commission of Pakistan to make necessary arrangements for the Pakistanis living abroad to cast their votes in the 2018 elections.

He said that denying overseas Pakistanis the voting right in spite of the demand of major political parties was unreasonable. Siraj appreciated Pope Francis’ positive statement about Islam and said the pontiff had a realistic statement, which was being appreciated widely. However, he added that people like Donald Trump were hurling wild accusations against Islam and were out to spread hatred against the Muslims.

He said that Islam was a religion of peace, love and justice and every attempt to smear its bright face would fail. He said that linking Islam and the Muslims with terrorism was tantamount to destroying world peace. “We are in favour of dialogue on all disputes facing the world today and strongly condemn unjustified killings and insult of humanity,” he added.

The JI chief termed the overseas Pakistanis as ambassadors of Islam and Pakistan abroad, and urged them to apprise the world community of the UN resolutions in support of the Kashmiris’ right to self-determination.

Siraj appealed the overseas Pakistanis to transfer their investments to the country so that Pakistan could get rid of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. He assured them that the country would soon be made free from corruption and corrupt system of the government. He noted that the Pakistanis abroad were remitting foreign exchange to the tune of $19 billion to the country annually. However, he added that the corrupt rulers plundered a major portion of this wealth to foreign banks. a