PK-95, Lower Dir-II: ‘I urged women to vote in by-polls’

JI chief Sirajul Haq defends party against accusations of being oppressive towards women

UPPER DIR/ TIMERGARA:

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq said he had appealed to women in Lower Dir to come out and exercise their constitutional right to vote in by-polls for Lower Dir.

Addressing a party meeting in Khal tehsil, Lower Dir, he said, “It wasn’t just women voters from JI; women from JUI-F, ANP and other political parties did not cast their ballot on the day of the by-polls.”

He said JI would only issue party tickets to those local government candidates who had given their sisters and daughters their complete property rights. He said the party would ask the candidates for proof in the form of certificates.

Judicial commission

Haq said the decision of the election tribunal against PML-N central leader and now former railways minister Saad Rafiq was an “eye opener”. The JI chief said his party also presented its stance before the judicial commission and soon things would become clear.



“The federal and provincial governments should be given time to complete their tenure or else the public will be forced to hear excuses about (interrupted governments).”

Sound bites

JI is struggling for the introduction of an Islamic system, stated Haq. He lashed out at former military dictator and president General (retd) Pervez Musharaf, saying he gifted more than 60,000 dead bodies to K-P for the sake of a few dollars.

The JI chief added education till matric and health care facilities would be free for the public if his party came into power. “Taxation in the country would be replaced by the Ushr and Zakat system.”

Haq underlined the need to establish a vibrant election commission to make the polling process transparent. He said future elections must be held through a biometric system.

Other JI leaders such as MPA Malik Behram Khan, former MNA Asadullah and several others were present on the occasion. Prominent social worker and chief of the Sultankhel tribe, Akunzada Sikandar Hazrat, joined JI along with his family and numerous followers. He recently parted ways with Qaumi Watan Party.

Public image

Haq also addressed several gatherings in Upper Dir where he said it was wrong to term the women of Lower Dir ignorant for not taking part in the polling process. He added they did this by choice and there was no restriction imposed on them.

He added the youth—a precious asset—should get both religious and modern education. Haq asked the federal government to explain Pervez Rashid’s statement on seminaries in which he termed them “centres of ignorance”. Addressing separate gathering in various areas, he asked the federal government to clarify the comments. “The people who fight against seminaries and mosques will suffer defeat.”

Minister for Finance Muzaffar Said, MNA Sahibzada Tariqullah, MPA Malik Behram Khan, JI district chief Sahibzada Fasihullah, General Secretary Mir Maghzanuddin and several other party leaders also addressed the workers.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2015.