Rulers can’t escape law even after amendments: JI chief

LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has said the entire country is currently echoing with the 27th Amendment, following which 28th, 29th, and 30th amendments will also come, but even after all these amendments, the rulers will not be able to escape the grip of the law.

He expressed these views while speaking at the Lahore Press Club’s (LPC) programme “Meet the Press.” Acting President LPC Afzal Talib, Secretary Zahid Abid, members of the governing body, and Deputy Secretary Information JI Sajid Namoos were also present on the occasion.

Hafiz Naeem said JI had rejected all such amendments, adding: “The time is near when these amendments will be reversed as sovereignty belongs only to Allah and no individual is exempt from accountability”.

He said those who make and get the amendments passed happen to be the same. “Whether it is PML-N, PPP, or MQM-P — they are all allies of one another,” he said, adding PPP and MQM had been together in Karachi for 40 years. “There is a system of oppression in the country, and it has become a stick in the hands of the powerful,” he said and added that the JI’s “Ijtima-e-Aam” would be the starting point of a movement to change this system.

Hafiz Naeem said if the rulers will close the doors of justice, then courts will be held in streets, leading to anarchy. “If governments begin to be formed through Form-47, then the public will lose trust in democracy,” he added.

Speaking about local bodies elections in Punjab, he said that even greater irregularities than horse-trading may emerge as a result of these elections. “What kind of system is this,” he asked, “where non-party elections are held first, and then elected individuals are told to join political parties?” He said JI would raise its voice against these non-party elections.

The JI chief said local bodies and student unions elections happen to be the nurseries of democracy, but the government had imposed a ban on elections of student and labor unions, which has led to the failure of democratic institutions in the country. He added that had the JI continued to contest elections independently rather than entering alliances, it would have been a major political force today. “Alliances are good if they are free of deceit, but in Pakistan this does not happen. JI has now decided to talk to political parties, but it will contest elections under its own electoral symbol.” He said the Constitution provides complete guidance regarding elections, but it was not implemented.

Speaking on the issue of Palestine, Hafiz Naeem said Pakistan should speak about one state — a single Palestinian state — and this has been the JI’s stance from day one.

The JI chief said that from November 21 to 23, millions of people from across the country will gather at the Minar-e-Pakistan grounds with a firm resolve to make Pakistan a true Islamic and democratic state, and the movement to change the system will begin from there. He said more than 200 representative delegations from 40 countries will participate in the congregation, adding: “This ‘Ijtima-e-Aam’ will be the largest in Pakistan’s history, with hundreds of thousands of women also taking part”.