PTI-JI differences begin to widen

MARDAN: Differences seem to be widening between the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) after Sirajul Haq claimed that the KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had sought the JI votes during the Senate chairman's election on orders received from ‘the top’.

Reacting strongly to the ‘allegation’, PTI Information Secretary Fawad Chaudhry alleged that the JI was following the policy of ‘Yazid say bhi marasim or Husain ko bhi salam’ (serving the two sides).

In a statement, he said the JI’s politics was strange, as on the one hand its Ameer was levelling allegations against the PTI while on the other hand, he continued to be a part of the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He recalled that it was the JI that had gone to the Supreme Court against Nawaz Sharif in the Panama Papers case and now it was the PML-N ally in the Senate. Fawad wondered why the JI had not parted ways with the KP government so far.

Chaudhry said if Senator Siraj had any issues with their party, he should first tender his resignation as senator, as the PTI had helped him win a seat in the upper house of Parliament. In another statement, he welcomed the statement of Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, who ruled out the possibility of judicial martial law in Pakistan.

He said such unflinching faith in the Constitution by the heads of constitutional bodies was quite encouraging and welcome as well. He said the chief justice’s statement was reflective of the supremacy of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, Senator Sirajul Haq on Sunday said the next general election would be of no use if there was rigging as had happened in the Senate election. He was speaking at a two-day congregation of party leaders and workers at Tafheem-ul-Quran Madrassa on the Mardan-Malakand Road here.

Siraj said the corrupt elite had failed to serve the masses. He said a group of families had been ruling the country since 1947. Unfortunately, he added, the nation did not bring the religious parties into power to pave way for implementation of the Islamic system in the country. He said the interest-based system had destroyed the country’s financial condition.

The JI chief said the interest-based system had increased corruption in the country. He urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to summon the senators and ask them to swear an oath whether or not they had sold votes during the Senate election. He said the ECP should disqualify those lawmakers and senators who were found involved in horse trading in the recently-held Senate polls.

The JI chief said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal would start its caravan from Islamabad from May 2. He said the MMA had to compete with the secular forces. 'We will put an end to the VIP culture as it is a burden on the national exchequer," he added.