Trying to mediate: ‘Democracy still feeble in Pakistan’

LAHORE:

Jamaat-i-Islami ameer Sirajul Haq said on Tuesday that democracy remained weak although the chances for martial law were remote.

He was speaking to journalists after meeting a delegation of Lahore High Court Bar Association officials in Mansoora. Haq said the political jirga had sincerely tried to resolve the deadlock. He said the government could resolve the crisis by taking steps to implement decisions agreed on by it and the PTI to resume talks.

Haq said the government’s failure to deliver on its promises could lead to mid-term elections. He said it appeared focused on staying in power rather than helping the people. Haq advised the government to quickly introduce electoral reforms. He said it should ensure that elections were held transparently.

Haq praised lawyers for defending democracy, rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution. He said lawyers had always stood against autocrats.  Haq urged lawyers to highlight the need to transform Pakistan into a model Islamic welfare state in accordance with the vision of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He praised the introduction of a biometric system at the LHCBA elections.

Haq said he visited Sialkot on Monday to condole families of those killed in Indian firing across the working boundary. He said it was shameful that no government representative had called on them. Haq urged the government to give a befitting reply to India.  Haq said India was bound to sustain greater losses than Pakistan in the event of hostilities as it was a larger state.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2014.