Religio-political parties have called for fresh elections to end the political and constitutional crisis in the country.
Leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan, Pakistan Awami Tehreek and others said that the masses should be allowed to elect their representatives through free and fair polls. Talking to journalists at Mansoorah on Monday, they called for the formation of a caretaker government to hold fresh polls. They said what happened on Sunday was shocking, and things could settle only through elections.
Sirajul Haq, the JI emir, however, urged the political parties to sit together for electoral reforms, rejecting PTI’s unilateral reforms. He said he believes the political system is not strong enough to adopt EVMs at present.
The Election Commission of Pakistan, he said, has already expressed its inability to hold elections through electronic voting machines in such a short span of time. The JI chief hoped the Supreme Court will soon issue its verdict to end political instability. The top court decision, he said, will be helpful in strengthening democracy.
He regretted that the politicians have once again failed to end political instability. The prime minister, he said, “attacked his own assembly”, a unique and sad incident in the history of the country. He said the political parties at least now have expressed maturity and held a dialogue to bring the country out of the crisis.
To avoid uncertainty, he said, the matter should be referred to the masses who, as real custodians, should be allowed to elect their representatives through free and fair elections. He said it has also been proved that the establishment’s experiences of bringing people into power have badly backfired. Therefore, he said, the JI has always called for the establishment’s neutrality. “Every institution should work within the limits defined in the constitution,” Siraj said.
To a question, he said no one can deny US interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs. But, he said, he was surprised why Washington would be against the PTI which, according to him, worked under the influence of US-backed institutions throughout its four years in power.
Meanwhile, TLP head Saad Rizvi said in a statement that Imran Khan has proved himself incapable and incompetent. He does not even care about the constitution, he said, adding that to bring an end to the current crisis, fresh, free and fair elections are the only way forward. Pakistan Awami Tehreek also demanded fresh elections.
