Siraj likely to be re-elected JI ameer

LAHORE: The name of new Jamaat Islami ameer for the next five-year term would be announced on Thursday (today) by chief election commissioner of JI, Maulana Asadullah Bhutto, at a press conference at Mansoorah.

According to sources, sitting ameer Senator Sirajul Haq is likely to be re-elected for the next term, citing the decades old tradition of JI Arkaan to re-elect the sitting ameer in its nearly 80 years history, unless the sitting ameer himself requested not to be re-elected. JI information secretary Qaiser Sharif said in a statement on Wednesday that JI Arkaan (permanent members) have cast votes for new JI ameer and the counting process has been completed.

Five-year term of present JI ameer Senator Sirajul Haq will expire on April 8, 2019. According to JI constitution, nobody could become candidate for any elected office since it makes him liable to be disqualified. JI central Shoora suggests three names (including the sitting ameer) to facilitate the Arkaan to choose one of them as next ameer. But the constitution allows them to vote for any other among the whole Arkaan whom they deemed suitable for electing as new JI ameer, if they do not want to vote for any of three nominees in the panel. The three names for the present elections suggested by JI Shoora are Senator Sirajul Haq, secretary general Liaqat Baloch and former KPK ameer Prof Mohammad Ibrahim.

The spokesman said the chairman JI election commission Maulana Asadullah Bhutto would announce the name of new JI ameer along with other members of election commission including Dr Waseem Akhtar, Mohammad Hussain Mehnti, Maulana Abdul Haq Hashmi and Bilal Qudrat Butt. He said the election commission had issued ballot papers to 39,124 permanent members (Arkaan) of Jamaat Islami through their respective district and zonal offices. The last date of receiving the sealed ballot papers in the ballot boxes at their respective offices was March 5, following which the papers were sent back to election commission for counting.

Baloch: JI acting ameer Liaquat Baloch has called upon New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to ensure exemplary punishment to the terrorists who massacred innocent Muslims in two Christchurch mosques.

In a letter to the New Zealand PM, he said those attacking the places of worship to kill unarmed worshippers were fanatics and psychotics who must be punished to prevent recurrence of such acts of terrorism in the European countries. Baloch paid rich tributes to the New Zealand Prime Minister and her people for promptly expressing their sympathy and solidarity with the bereaved families. He also welcomed New Zealand government’s decision to review the arms and armament laws in the country. He said concrete steps were needed to wipe out craze for warfare, hatred and biases against religious minorities. He said collective and joint efforts all over the world, especially in Europe and Asian counties were necessary to check the growing religious hatred and violence against minorities.