Groundswell of support: JI throws weight behind Nasir Zahid as new poll chief

Says federal govt, PTI should take up from where the talks were left off

PESHAWAR:

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Secretary General Liaqat Baloch has said his party will wholeheartedly support the appointment of Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid as the new chief election commissioner (CEC).

Speaking at a news conference on Friday at JI’s provincial headquarters, Baloch said the party had always backed Zahid’s appointment. During the previous government, when Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had discussed the matter with opposition parties, JI had proposed Zahid’s name.

Baloch maintained all other nominees were respected individuals but he insisted age should be taken into account as an important factor in appointing the new CEC. “Political parties should learn from their experience with Justice Fakruddin G Ebrahim and not appoint a CEC who is unable to cope with the challenges of the post,” claimed Baloch.

Earlier, on Thursday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Khurshid Shah discussed various names for the vacant CEC slot and agreed to appoint the new commissioner through consensus.

The opposition leader later addressed the media and said he may take proposals from other opposition and political parties as well. Shah also said the government was keen on seeing either Justice Rana Bhagwandas or Justice Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui as the new CEC.

The Supreme Court has fixed November 16 as the deadline for the appointment.

Talks with PTI

At Friday’s news conference, the JI secretary general also said the federal government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) should resume talks from where they were left off. According to Baloch, during a meeting, a PTI delegation comprising Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Chief Minister Pervez Khattak hinted to JI Ameer Sirajul Haq that they were prepared to resume talks.

Baloch pressed the government to initiate negotiations since PTI is willing to resume talks. The JI believes both parties should tackle issues in light of recommendations made by a political jirga headed by Sirajul Haq, he said.

The leader also lauded the efforts made by National Assembly (NA) Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq for effectively handling the resignations of PTI lawmakers.

Baloch insisted his party is against the resignation of PTI lawmakers from national and provincial assemblies and urged them to withdraw and begin negotiations instead.

Taking a stand

Baloch also urged the government to pay attention to the manifold problems faced by internally displaced people (IDP). “People from areas which have been cleared of militants should be allowed to return home,” said Baloch.

The JI leader also condemned the brutal murders of a Christian couple in Kot Radha Kishan, Punjab and termed it a violation of minority rights. “JI stands with the minorities of this country and will not tolerate any unwarranted attacks against them,” he stated.

Baloch announced the JI was going to approach young people from the country through a convention in Lahore between November 21 and 23. Using this platform, the party will launch a drive to promote democracy, Islamic system of governance and to make Pakistan a welfare state, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2014.