Electoral reforms foremost need of country: JI

LAHORE
Expressing deep concern over the increasing uncertainty and widening political and economic instability in the country, the central Shoora of the Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan has stated that comprehensive electoral reforms are the foremost need of the country. The Shoora reaffirmed its commitment to fight the problems of inflation, unemployment, lawlessness and energy crisis. It resolved to organise the downtrodden through mass movement for the ultimate goal of building an Islamic and prosperous Pakistan.
The JI central consultative body meeting which held with JI chief Senator Sirajul Haq, in the chair, through a resolution viewed that the incompetence and mega corruption of political parties coming into power on turn and their total indifference to the people's problems was creating disappointment among the masses about the system itself which did not auger well for the country and the nation.
The resolution said that transparency in the local government elections in Punjab and Sindh was doubtful due to the interference of the provincial governments. In Punjab, under the dissolution of power, all powers seemed to have been transferred to the chief minister and the election laws were in conflict with the Constitution and human rights. It called upon the election commission to start the updating of the electoral rolls under the Constitution and quickly complete the deletion of bogus votes from the electoral rolls in Karachi in the light of the directions of the Supreme Court with the help of the Rangers or the armed forces. It demanded holding of much delayed census and impressed upon the government to hold dialogue with Baloch leaders outside the country in order to overcome the feelings of hatred and disappointment among the Baloch youth and revive among them the feelings of friendship and cooperation with the federation. Similarly, it said, the western route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor should be completed at the earliest in accordance with the announcement of the Prime Minister at the APC held on May 28 last. The Shoora expressed deep concern over the worsening law and order in the country and opined that the rulers had totally failed to protect the life, property and honour of the citizens. It was especially worried over the rising incidents of molestation of children. It noted that an operation was going on in Karachi against criminals, terrorists and target killers because of which normalcy had largely restored in Karachi. It noted that there had been recovery of large cache of arms from the headquarters of an ethnic organisation besides the arrest of criminals and target killers. The confessional statement of Saulat Mirza had revealed the RAWs patronage behind MQM’s terrorist activities. It, however, said that despite these developments, delay in the proceedings against the criminals in these matters in accordance with the law was causing great anxiety among the people. The criminals had been in the Rangers custody for months. Similarly, the Model Town tragedy in Lahore, the Yuhannabad and the Kasur tragedy seemed to have been put in cold storage. It felt that the National Action Plan against terrorism had also failed to create the desired results and the government had failed to achieve most of the points raised in the NAP. Meanwhile, JI Ameer Senator Sirajul Haq is launching Kisan Raj Tehrik, from Rahimyar Khan today (October 5). Large number of peasants would participate in the movement which would continue till the demands of the tillers were accepted. The JI chief will address agriculturists at two sugar mills at Machi Goth and Rahimyar Khan. On October 6, he will address the gatherings at Channi Goth near Bahawalpur. On October 7, he will lead the kisan rally at Jahaniyan and address a public meeting at Khanewal. He will address rallies at Chichawatni, Sahiwal and Okara. On October 9, the JI chief will address the kisan sit-in at Islamabad.