December 09, 2007	Sunday	Ziqa'ad 28, 1428

PESHAWAR, Dec 8: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Samiul Haq) issued its election manifesto on Saturday, which promised support for movements for the promulgation of Sharia in Muslim countries.

The manifesto declared that only men were eligible to become presidents and prime ministers and non-Muslims could not be appointed to key posts. Islam, it said, would be declared as the state religion, while all Muslims would be required to undergo military training.

The manifesto, released from the party’s secretariat in Akora Khattak in Nowshera, said education would be free for all up to the secondary level and co-education would be discouraged. The party would set up separate institutions for women, including universities, across the country.

Arabic would be declared a compulsory subject while English would be an optional one. The party, if it came to power, would ban usury and introduce an Islamic banking system.

Minimum wages would be Rs3,000 a month. The judicial system would be brought into conformity with the Sharia laws, said the manifesto.—Bureau Report