PESHAWAR, Sept 8: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Syed Munawar Hassan has said that his party is ready for seat to seat adjustment with all political parties for the forthcoming general elections.
Talking to journalists here on Saturday, he said that JI had nominated candidates for all seats of national and provincial assemblies across the country. He directed workers to expedite preparations for the general polls.
“JI can make seat to seat adjustment with any political party in the next elections,” he said, adding keeping in view the peculiar political situation of provinces, Jamaat could enter into electoral alliance with different political parties in different provinces.
“There is possibility to make seat to seat adjustment at division level,” Mr Hassan remarked. When asked about the restoration of Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), he said that negative statements by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI) leaders were major hurdle in revival of the six-party alliance.
The JI chief said that restoration of MMA was a serious issue, but before its revival, his party wanted to ascertain reasons, which led to dissolution of the alliance. He said that he had discussed fate of MMA with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, but remained inconclusive.
Mr Hassan said that conspiracies being hatched to postpone the general elections in the country. He said that it was also possible to launch military operation in North Waziristan Agency to justify delay in the polls.
“The government can declare emergency on the pretext of law and order situation,” he said and added that in fact President Asif Ali Zardari was interested in delaying elections for at least one year.
The JI chief said that it was in the larger interest of the nation to hold early elections. He criticised the role of former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif and said that he should give up friendly opposition.
He opposed new local government ordinance in Sindh and alleged that Mutahidda Quami Movement (MQM) was empowered to rule urban areas of Sindh.
Mr Hassan alleged that both PPP and MQM wanted to rig polls in Sindh to continue extortion and corruption in the province. He said that JI fully supported strike call in Sindh against the new ordinance.
The JI chief rejected US government reports about presence of Haqqani network in Pakistan. He said that Haqqani group was operating in Afghanistan and could not be separated from Taliban movement. He said that America should admit its defeat and leave Afghanistan as soon as possible.
