Sirajul Haq re-elected JI ameer

LAHORE : Senator Sirajul Haq has been re-elected as ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami for the second five-year term by a large majority of JI Arkaan (permanent members) through elections held under secret ballot.

The announcement was made by JI naib ameer and chairman JI election commission Maulana Asadullah Bhutto at a press conference here on Thursday at the conclusion of vote counting. Asadullah Bhutto said JI was the only religio-political party of the country which had been holding regular elections for its offices-bearers. He said there had never been any gap in this regard.

Recalling JI’s election history, he said, JI founder Maulana Syed Abul Ala Maudoodi was the first elected ameer and was re-elected from 1941 up to 1972. Mian Tufail Muhammad was the second elected ameer from 1972 till 1987.

Qazi Husain was the third JIP ameer and was elected from 1987 till 2009. He was followed by Syed Munawwar Hasan, who was elected as JIP ameer for the period from 2009 till 2014.

Asadullah Bhutto said the male and female members (Arkaan) of JI enjoyed equal voting right. He said JI women wing had its own election commission. He said the elections were held in accordance with the Islamic principles and on true democratic lines.

He said JI constitution requires that no JI member could present himself as a candidate for any office, which is liable to automatic disqualification. Similarly, there was no campaign for the candidates.

Asadullah Bhutto said for the guidance of JI members or Arkan, the central Shoora proposed three names for the office of JI ameer. The three names recommended by Shoora this time were Senator Sirajul Haq, Liaqat Baloch and Prof Muhammad Ibrahim Khan. However, the Arkan were free to vote for any other JI Rukn for the top party office.

Meanwhile, inaugurating the central office of JI Kissan wing, Jamaat e Islami acting ameer Liaquat Baloch, demanded the government include a farmers’ representative in the National Economic Coordination committee meant for determining the support price of various crops.

Liaquat Baloch said past governments had also announced different packages for the farmers to achieve self sufficiency but it did not benefit the tillers at all. He said self-seeking elements were reaping the benefit of the farmers labour. The growers were not getting due return for major crops including wheat, rice, sugar cane, cotton, potato. Similarly, they were not getting standard seeds. As a result, the agricultural production in the country was continuously declining as compared to several other countries.

He said that this was a matter of deep concern for the agricultural scientists and the government.

To a question, he said Prime Minister Imran Khan should not have invited Jehangir Tareen at the federal cabinet meeting as he had been disqualified for tax evasion by the Supreme Court.

President JI Kissan wing, Ch Nisar Ahmed advocate, said JI Kissan was the real platform for the farmers of the country and it would make every effort to solve the problems of the farming community.