40 days and 40 nights: Siraj says 80% of PTI, PAT and Centre’s issues are resolved

Plans to launch Tehreek-e-Pakistan movement from Lahore to promote Islamic governance.

PESHAWAR:

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Sirajul Haq said on Monday that they have managed to resolve about 80% of the issues between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Awami Tehreek and the government. The JI has asked them to reach an agreement on the remaining ones.

The chief held a public rally on Sunday at Soekrano Square, where he said he does not want to see ‘Azadi’ and ‘Inqilab’ marchers going back home “dejected and heartbroken”. This is the reason, Haq said, he has offered solutions to the current national political situation.

A whirlwind affair

Addressing a mass wedding ceremony arranged by Al-Khidmat Foundation at the JI’s provincial headquarters, Siraj said they have been striving to resolve issues amicably for almost 40 days to protect democracy. The continuing stand-off may start the beginning of the end of democracy, he feared. Siraj also said the imposition of martial law would be a huge loss for Pakistan, as dictatorship badly impacted the country in the past.



Siraj asked both the marchers and the government to come to the table. JI has held about 40 meetings so far with the parties concerned. He feared if the issues are not solved by talks then “some untoward event might take place, which would affect the Constitution”.

He said he and his party have given their suggestions to all the parties involved in the current stand-off and hoped that they will manage to eke out a deal between them.

Siraj also expressed his concerns over the Lahore incident, where the electoral records of the 2013 elections got mysteriously burnt.

He demanded an investigation of this incident from a Supreme Court judge. “At a time when protests are being held over the transparency of the elections and political parties are protesting against rigging, such an episode will be questioned.” Haq added his party will launch a Tehreek-e-Pakistan movement from Minar-e-Pakistan, Lahore on November 21-23 to make the public aware about Islamic governance.

Other JI leaders were also present at the occasion. The party’s chief also performed the nikkah of about 25 couples.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2014.