LAHORE: Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Senator Sirajul Haq on Monday called on the Chief Election Commission Justice (Rtd) Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan in Islamabad and presented him the suggestions for ensuring the 2018 general elections fair, free and transparent.
Sirajul Haq stressed the need for holding political parties’ elections under the supervision of the Election Commission and the fixation of the ceiling of the election expenses. He also gave proposals for the implementation of articles 62 and 63 of the constitution. The CEC assured the JI delegation that the EC would thoroughly examine these suggestions.
While talking to media, he said that it was imperative to take solid and comprehensive steps that could restore the masses confidence in the Election Commission. He said that the Election Commission should be fully autonomous and also have arrangements to face the challenges due to harsh weathers.
The JI chief said that his suggestion for elections of political parties under the supervision of the Election Commission was aimed at ending the prevailing trend of hereditary politics. He said unfortunately, political parties had been reduced to family affairs and party leadership passed from father to sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters from brothers to brothers and sisters.
He said that the democratic system could be strengthened only if dedicated and capable party workers were encouraged and provided opportunities to move upwards.
Sirajul Haq said that limits on election expenses were essential to shake the hold of the capitalists, vaderas and feudal lords on the politics who had turned politics a business. They spent millions on elections simply to plunder billions.
The JI chief condemned MQM leader Altaf Husain’s outburst and said that Altaf Husain was creating problems for himself and also the people of Karachi. He said that unfortunately, the rulers- both political and military- had been accommodating Altaf Husain simply for political expediencies by giving preference to party interests over vital national interests. He said that the issue must be decided in accordance with the constitution and the law and not on party or personal considerations. He said it would be better for Altaf Husain to come to Pakistan. H also counseled the MQM to dissociate itself from the statement of Altaf Husain.
He said it was Pakistan government’s responsibility to take the matter of its national murder in Britain to its logical end. He said that politics should be separated from crime.
The JI chief met the CEC along with JI deputy chief Mian Muhammad Aslam, and JI parliamentary chief in the National Assembly Sahibzada Muhammad Yaqub Khan.
