JI leader demands midterm elections

Senators ask for briefing on implementation of the 18th Amendment.


Qamar Zaman June 25, 2011

ISLAMABAD:


Professor Khursheed Ahmed of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has demanded that the government hold midterm elections “considering that it has failed to honour the mandate given by the nation”.


“It is important for the continuation of democracy to provide the nation with an opportunity to elect a new government,” Ahmed said, while participating in the Senate debate on President Asif Ali Zaradari’s address to the joint session of Parliament in March. He said the President should have taken the nation into confidence on drone attacks and the presence of US forces in the country.

Recounting the multidimensional crises facing the country, he underlined the need to revise national policies with respect to terrorism and relations with the United States. “The country has suffered a $68 billion loss in the war against terrorism,” he added.

The JI leader noted that the government has failed to overcome the energy crisis and improve the law and order situation in the country. On the other hand, budgets for the President House and Prime Minister Secretariat have been increased by 25 per cent.

He said that by reducing expenditures and improving transparency in national institutions, billions of rupees can be saved to end dependence on foreign loans. The JI leader also complained that the 18th Amendment was not being implemented in letter and spirit.

Law Minister Maula Baksh Chandio commended the president for his address and expressed surprise over the demand for midterm elections. He said it was alarming that some political parties were demanding midterm elections, which implies an invitation to dictatorship in the country.

PML-N’s Ishaq Dar said the government was following foreign dictation against the national interest. He was of the view that President Zardari should have clarified his government’s policies in his address to parliament.

Meanwhile, senators expressed concern over the export of wheat, saying it would result in price hike in the country. Speaking on a point of order, Ilyas Bilour said wheat export to Afghanistan and Russia has affected the prices of wheat in the country. Minister for Food and Agriculture Israrullah Zehri said the ministry was being devolved, therefore, he did not have information on export limits. Previously, the export limit was three million tones. Before the initiation of the devolution process, 1.8 million tonnes was exported.

Briefing on implementation of 18th Amendment

Deputy Chairman Jan Muhammad Jamali asked the law minister to coordinate with the ministry for interprovincial coordination for a briefing on the devolution process under way in light of the 18th Amendment. Senators Sughra Imam, Haji Lashkari and Kalsoom Parveen had requested for a briefing from the chairman implementation commission for answers to questions on provincial autonomy and the devolution process.





Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2011.

COMMENTS (8)

Aftab Khan | 12 years ago | Reply Mr Ahmed i fully agree with u r views Keep it up and spread it to the Innocent people of our country .
Ahmed | 12 years ago | Reply JI, you have no presence in the parliament. Mid term elections are only called when the party in power gets a no confidence motion in parliament. Why don't you make your alliance official with Imran Taliban (PTI) and work on your five point agenda. If people do not know your agenda, I am outlining it. 1) Treat Women less than equal.and hide them behind Taliban type burga. 2) Do not trust anyone who is a non-wahabi Sunni or a shia or non muslim. 3) Blame everyone else for the killings done by TTP. LeT, LeJ. 4) Blame the West, India, MQM, PPP, PML for all the problems. 5) Lie, cheat and blame everyone else for the miseries created by you and other fundamentalists. With your above manifesto I am sure you will get about 1% to 2% of the vote.
VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ