LAHORE: The Jamaat-i-Islami is still resisting going with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf on the latter’s demand for early elections in the country believing it will only benefit the ruling party.

“We don’t favour early polls as is the demand of a political party (PTI),” JI Emir Senator Sirajul Haq told a meeting of party activists here on Sunday.

He argued that early polls always benefited the rulers only by getting “political martyrdom” which the JI won’t allow this time.

He said the federal and provincial governments must be allowed to complete their [mandated] five-year terms.

He called upon the federal government to withdraw the clause 203 paving way for the election of a disqualified person as party head.

He also reiterated his demand that the elements behind the conspiracy to amend the oath regarding Khatm-i-Nabuwat be exposed.

Meanwhile talking to the media at the Walima reception of the son of JI former district emir Dr Liaquat Ali Kausar at an Okara marriage hall, Mr Haq said it was the good luck of the PML-N that it never faced a united opposition in the country and in parliament.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2017