There will be more chaos & unrest if elections are not held in transparent manner in the country: Sirajul Haq

ISLAMABAD, Feb 03 (SABAH): Emir Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Sirajul Haq has said that still doubts about the holding of elections exist, adding that if the establishment and other state institutions will remain impartial only then there will be good credibility of the elections. He said that there will be more chaos and unrest if the elections are not held in transparent manner in the country.

In an interview with “Voice of America”, Sirajul Haq said that in 2018 elections the establishment was fully involved in brining one government, adding that if they have learnt lesson from past then they should remain impartial this time. He said that the judiciary and Election Commission of Pakistan should have to remain impartial, which will be beneficial for the credibility of these institutions. He said that the establishment brought which government in 2018, due to this army is facing criticism even today.

Sirajul Haq said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and many other political parties of Pakistan are of the view that military establishment while interfering in the elections brought Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) into government. He said that now same allegations are being leveled by PTI, PPP and other parties that they are not being provided with the level playing field for brining PML-N into government.

Sirajul Haq said that it will be his effort that after the general elections all the stakeholders including government to sit together for devising the joint strategy for bringing the country out of problems. According to Sirajul Haq, to make agree on joint strategy will only be possible when all will have belief that elections have been held in fair and transparent manner and if it is not happened then more chaos and unrest will be witnessed by the country. Sirajul Haq said that they will decide after the elections whether to sit in government or opposition. He said that it looks that many big and small parties will reach the National Assembly in result of the elections, adding that JI will decide to sit in government or opposition while assessing the situation. He said that JI has fielded over 700 candidates in the country, adding that it is first time that in such a large number the Jamaat-e-Islami candidates are contesting the elections.

According to Sirajul Haq, JI has given the revolutionary manifesto which is inevitable for making the country Islamic welfare state and due to this basis the people are seeing the JI as an alternate in these elections. He said that the rule of law; justice and provision of the equal opportunities are the salient features of the JI manifesto, by following which many countries have made progress in every field. While responding a question regarding not forming alliance with religious parties in elections, Sirajul Haq said that JI has not good experience of contesting the election in past in form of coalition. He said that JI remained part of the coalitions like Islami Jambhoori Ittehad, Pakistan Qaumi Ittehad and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal in past. Sirajul Haq aid that he has presented JI as an alternate without going into any coalition, adding that in result of coalition ministries could be secured but required reforms could not be done.

He said that PML-N, PPP and PTI all remained in power in past but no one is talking about their performance in the elections. Sirajul Haq said that he could give peaceful solution to the region through dialogues between Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan.

Replying a question regarding giving advice to Imran Khan, Sirajul Haq said that there are many people who could advice former prime minister, adding that there is no worth of the advice which is given without seeking it.