Election campaign: We are not against the rights of women: JI

The party will hold a women gathering on April 17; JI chief Sirajul Haq will address

KARACHI: The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) candidate for the NA-246 by-election, Rashid Naseem, said on Tuesday that the party is not against the rights of women.

"We respect women and we are not against their rights ," he said at a press conference at Aisha Manzil. "Our aim is to end violence in the city and make Karachi a peaceful city."

According to JI Karachi ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the party will organise a women's gathering on April 17 at Sharae Pakistan as part of their election campaign. JI chief Sirajul Haq will address the gathering, announced Rehman.

Talking about the upcoming by-polls, Naseem said there was a need to change the mind-set and give a chance to others. "For the last two decades, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement has been governing the constituency of NA-246 but the time has now come to stand up against the evil," he said. "The JI had worked tremendously for the betterment of the city under the governance of Niamatullah Khan."

Rehman termed it a 'success' that despite all the problems and barriers in the constituency, the JI has peacefully conducted its election campaign. "We are looking forward to the [same] support on the day of the election as the people showed on our April 12 meeting," he said.

According to Rehman, it is high time that a protest be launched against rigging in the general elections in Karachi. "We want to save the people of Karachi from extortionists, terrorist attacks and violence so they can live freely," he said. "In the coming days, the scenario of the country will change and all other religious and political parties will stand up in support of JI. The love and respect that JI is receiving from the people shows that if the elections will be fair, our win is definite."

He further announced that an Ulema convention, headed by party chief Haq, will also be held on April 18.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th, 2015.