Polls should be held in 2012: Haideri

Maulana Haideri says fair, free elections only solution to present crises faced by the country.

PESHAWAR:

Opposition leader in the Senate and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) senior leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said on Monday that polls should be held in 2012.

Talking to reporters, Maulana Haideri said that fair and free elections were the only solution to the present crises faced by the country.

However, these should come under a democratic framework and the JUI-F would not support any undemocratic move, Haideri asserted.

“All political parties should be on the same page in deciding a timeframe for elections,” said Haideri.

First, the opposition parties must evolve a consensus amongst themselves, and then they should exert pressure on the government to hold elections,” pointed out Haideri.

“The government has failed miserably to cope with the problems faced by the people and its writ is disappearing fast,” said Haideri.

He also criticised the government for what he termed as its failure to stop drone attacks in the tribal areas, even in the aftermath of Salala check-post attack.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2012.