Whole exercise of the national elections has become a joke: Sirajul Haq

LAHORE Feb 17 (SABAH): Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Sirajul Haq has expressed deep concern over the state of the election process, stating that it has become a mockery and has vowed not to remain silent in the face of blatant rigging. He said that the whole exercise of the national elections has become a joke. He said that Rs 50 billion were wasted from the national kitty on the elections.  

Presiding over the session of the JI Majlise Shura at Mansoorah on Saturday, Sirajul Haq lamented that the initial hope for stability post-elections has been shattered due to widespread result manipulation, which, in turn, has opened the door to increased instability and polarization.

Sirajul Haq affirmed that the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) will utilize all available legal options to expose the rigging and assured that the party will persist in its struggle for the rule of law and national unity.

He observed that while elections typically bring stability in most countries, Pakistan’s case is markedly different. With the country having experienced 12 elections, Sirajul Haq emphasized that each poll has witnessed a planned arrangement of rigging, eroding the public’s faith in the democratic process.

Highlighting a recurring issue, Sirajul Haq pointed out that in Pakistan, the Prime Minister seems to be pre-selected before the polls, undermining the true spirit of democratic representation. He reiterated the JI’s steadfast stance that institutions should remain apolitical, but this principle has consistently been overlooked. Moreover, Sirajul Haq criticized mainstream political parties for aligning with undemocratic forces, posing a threat to the democratic fabric of the nation.

In a noteworthy development, the JI Shura rejected the resignation of Emir Sirajul Haq, urging him to continue his work. The Shura session, scheduled to conclude on Sunday, will feature a press conference by Sirajul Haq.

The agenda for the session on Saturday revolved around discussions on election rigging and plans to organize a mass movement against election manipulation.

Sirajul Haq said the JI remains committed to upholding democratic principles and exposing any irregularities that compromise the integrity of the electoral process.