JI for fair election mechanism

LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Sirajul Haq Thursday expressed concerns about the future of democracy and called for a national dialogue among political stakeholders to establish a transparent election mechanism in the country.

Addressing a press conference at Mansoorah, he said the JI's Working Committee has unanimously termed the Election 2024 as rigged and controversial one and vowed to expose it democratically.

Presiding over the session of the JI’s Majlise Aamal, he said, the JI has already started efforts for holding national dialogue to save the democracy and in this regard, it hosted a session of the observers and members of civil society. Haq emphasized the importance of announcing results based on Form 45, asserting that any government formed on a fake mandate would fail to address the country's crises. The nation demanded the poll results be announced on the basis of Form 45, he said. He criticized institutions for falling short of the nation's expectations regarding election impartiality.

He demanded the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner, saying the latter has failed to protect the democratic rights of the people. He demanded a transparent audit of the 2024 elections through an independent judicial commission along with political party representatives, he said. Siraj alleged the JI's mandate was stolen in Karachi and results tampered with in other parts of the country, declaring the party's commitment to never remain silent on the theft of public mandate. Haq urged the government to provide emergency relief to the rain-affected people of Gwadar. He appealed to the Muslim leaders and demanded tangible steps for extending aid to the people of Gaza. Siraj condemned Israeli bombings and called for a strong stance from Muslim world to bring atrocities of Zionist forces to an end.