Jamaat-e-Islami would not remain silent & would utilize constitutional & democratic processes to expose alleged theft of people’s mandate: Sirajul Haq

ISLAMABAD, Feb 22 (SABAH): Referring to the elections as a mockery of the nation, Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Sirajul Haq expressed regret over the alleged misuse of Rs50 billion from the national exchequer in what he deemed a fraudulent exercise.

Speaking at a press conference following his participation in a Jamaat-e-Islami Youth meeting at Mansoorah on Thursday, Sirajul Haq criticized the re-emergence of two dynasties against the people’s February 8 vote.

He asserted that a government formed on a fraudulent mandate would not sustain itself, emphasizing the need for a fair investigation into electoral rigging through a judicial commission. He called for the resignation of the Election Commissioner to ensure an impartial investigation.

He highlighted the disillusionment of the youth, stating that their confidence has wavered due to the alleged election rigging, which he claimed turned the country’s democracy into a laughingstock. He criticized the election commission, bureaucracy, and establishment for failing to meet public expectations regarding impartiality, citing instances of sudden changes in electoral results.

Claiming that the Jamaat-e-Islami mandate was stolen in various constituencies, he pledged that the Jamaat-e-Islami would not remain silent and would utilize constitutional and democratic processes to expose the alleged theft of the people’s mandate. He announced the Jamaat-e-Islami plan to host a “Save the Democracy Conference” on February 26 in Islamabad, inviting members from civil society, independent observers, and lawyers.

In addition, Sirajul Haq called on the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to review the decision on the Qadiani issue, expressing concerns about decisions that he believed harmed the people’s mandate. He also voiced apprehension about the disappearance of Abu Bakar from Sargodha, claiming that authorities had unlawfully kidnapped him, emphasizing the Jamaat-e-Islami’s commitment to advocating for missing persons and the supremacy of law and justice.