Sirajul Haq reaffirms his commitment to the pursuit of civilian supremacy

ISLAMABAD, Feb 21 (SABAH): Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Sirajul Haq has reaffirmed his commitment to the pursuit of civilian supremacy, emphasizing the urgent need for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) in response of severe allegations election rigging.

Speaking at a press conference held at the residence of JI Vice-Emir Mian Muhammad Aslam on Wednesday, Sirajul Haq underscored the demand for an impartial judicial commission to thoroughly investigate allegations of election rigging. He argued that true independence in the inquiry could only be achieved with the resignation of the CEC and stressed the importance of including political party representation in the proposed commission.

He contended that a government established on the grounds of a stolen mandate would not effectively serve the country’s interests. He expressed concerns about the prospect of perpetuating the dominance of two political dynasties that had held power for decades, attributing issues such as unemployment, inflation, and lawlessness to their prolonged rule.

Highlighting the JI’s stance, Sirajul Haq announced the party’s intent to host a “Save the Democracy Conference” in Islamabad on February 26. He asserted that the JI’s mandate had been unfairly taken, and the party would employ all legal and democratic means to reclaim it, vowing not to compromise on the sanctity of the vote.

Sirajul Haq criticized the failure of key institutions, including the establishment, judiciary, and election commission, to remain apolitical and meet the nation’s expectations. He expressed disappointment in the civil bureaucracy, funded by the taxes of Pakistan’s poor, for not respecting the public mandate.

Addressing the election process, Sirajul Haq decried its conduct, stating that it had made a mockery of democracy on a global scale. He pledged not to remain silent in the face of blatant rigging, expressing regret that the initial hope for stability post-elections had been shattered due to widespread result manipulation.

Sirajul Haq observed that while elections typically bring stability in most countries, Pakistan’s experience has been marked by planned rigging arrangements in each of the 12 national polls, eroding public faith in democracy and inviting prolonged martial laws.