When JI was in charge, Karachi was peaceful: Haq

Party chief claims that only JI has the power to unite the people of the metropolis

KARACHI: When the city's representation was in the hands of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Karachi was a developing city. When Abdul Sattar Afghani was the mayor of the metropolis, Karachi was a peaceful city.

So claimed JI ameer Sirajul Haq at a press conference held ahead of by-elections in the NA-246 constituency at Idara-e-Noor-e-Haq, the party headquarters in Karachi, on Monday.

Requesting Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) supporters to give their votes to his party, he urged Karachi's residents to change the leadership of their city. "The people of Karachi vote for MQM in the hope that MQM will address their issues but their problems have not been solved," he asserted, alleging that the rival party had taken over the city. "Vote for JI on the basis of the services we have performed for Karachi."

Repeating his remarks from his address to the Karachi Bar Association at the city courts on Saturday, Haq quipped that he wanted the same city back where even MQM chief Altaf Hussain could live without fear.

"Only JI has the power to unite the people of Karachi again," he claimed, asking the MQM to give up the politics of hate. "Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has representatives from Karachi in the National Assembly and so does the MQM. If we win this seat, however, we will represent Karachi like no one has ever done before." He added that these elections were important for every Pakistani because the future of the country was linked to prosperity in the city. Haq further reiterated demands for the installation of the biometric system for voting at the polling stations on election day and requested the Election Commission of Pakistan to ensure free and fair elections. "The government can arrange the biometric system to verify SIM cards but they are refusing to do so for these polls," he pointed out, also complaining that the JI had not yet received the list of presiding officers.

"Some people are worried about holding fair elections because their candidates have always been easily elected in this constituency but those who were always elected will not get the chance this time," he asserted.

Replying to a question, Haq said that his party would not boycott the elections. "This time, we will not give open ground to the MQM." He refused to comment on the seat adjustment deadlock between the JI and PTI, merely terming it an opportunity for the voters.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2015.