PML-N, PPP are behind in delaying elections: Sirajul Haq

ISLAMABAD, Sep 10 (SABAH): Emir Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Sirajul Haq has said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) were behind in delaying elections which is why we want that the court should guide and issue clear orders that elections should be held within the stipulated time period given in the Constitution.

Sirajul Haq expressed these views during in an interview with a private TV channel. He said that Supreme Court of Pakistan should give deadline to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) with regard to announcement of date of holding of elections within specified time period. “I am not in favour of extending the time period of the caretaker setup as it would result in increasing the problems for the country,” he remarked.

He further said that extending tenure by the caretaker setup is neither in favour of the country nor in favour of its own interests and added if the Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar holds timely and transparent elections in the country he would earn a good name in the history. “Pakistan is eighth big country among countries producing sugarcane thus in this land of hours sugar must be sold at Rs 20 per kg,” he added.

“Developing consensus on a same date for holding elections in the country should be discussed as single point agenda for which we are inclined to. We don’t agree on argument of the government that until theft of Rs 538 billion is not overcome, exorbitant electricity bills could not be curtailed as it is a mistake on part of the government but not the masses,” the Emir Jamaat-e-Islami noted.

Sirajul Haq went on to say, “Until and unless the government does not reverse hike in electricity price, we would continue our protest movement. Who would digest the notion that the government has powers to increase prices of electricity, LPG, petrol and diesel but is powerless in cutting down these inflated rates.”

He added, “We are in favour of revisiting the agreements made with the Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Jamaat-e-Islami is going to knock the doors of the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) against these agreements. Besides this, it is also going to organize National Energy Conference to find out alternative energy sources as we don’t only object but also have its alternative solution.”

He said that Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan filed a petition in the Supreme Court in connection with holding of elections in a timely manner and added they wanted the Supreme Court to conduct hearing of the petition as early as possible as there is a sea of 240 million human beings which could not be run by a few ministers as they don’t enjoy mandate as well as not relied upon by the people. He noted the current setup don’t enjoy confidence of people and not supported National Assembly as well as four provincial assemblies.

“According to the given mandate in the light of Constitution, elections should be held within 90 days which is clearly stated by Constitution’s Article 224,” he said and added, “If the elections are not held timely, we would consider that ECP and current interim governments are violating the Constitution.”

He said the ECP till date has not announced date of the elections while keeping the Constitution of the country aside and added they are going to approach the SCP as the ECP’s attitude strengthened their suspicions towards holding general elections in the country. “If you want to get rid of 240 million people from the swamp then holding elections in the country is single solution.

ECP has listened to all the parties tending to take part in polls and now time has reached that it should make an announcement in connection with date of elections,” he stressed.

Sirajul Haq stressed upon the current interim government to rein in a few smugglers and added it is truth that Pakistani nation has none of its alternatives across the globe as such politicians would belong to another country would have surely defaced and ruined that country while Pakistanis are still intact and breathing. He noted the government and Army could easily control smuggling on the border and continued, “We want to see supremacy of law in the country.”

“Either President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi is controversial or not but it is a fact he is facing hard time as his presidentship has become limited up to the walls of President House. Dr. Alvi has not consulted me with regard to tendering his resignation that is why I would not present my consultation to him for nothing,” he noted.

To a question on return of PML-N supremo Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif back to Pakistan, Sirajul Haq noted that protectors of status-quo would not benefit the country as well as the nation which is why he said he was not in favour of testing again the tested ones as it would be an act of injustice with our future as well as the new generations. “One opportunity should be given to those people who wanted to bring a real change. I appeal to people to change their rulers and the current system, he added.