PESHAWAR: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq on Friday said lawmakers rejected wealthy people and landlords in the Senate elections and that most Senators had been elected people on merit.

In a news release issued by the party’s provincial headquarters here, Sirajul Haq, who was elected as a senator from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, congratulated the Senators-elect.

He said money might have been used in the Senate polls in some cases but the process largely remained transparent.

The JI chief said all 40 candidates fielded by wealthy people failed to win Senate elections. He said Senators-elect from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had greater responsibilities and they would fight for the rights of the province.

Siraj voiced reservations about the existing electoral system and said the system required drastic reforms to block the use of money and other illegal tactics in the elections.

He said the federal government had set up a parliamentary committee to draft proposals for making changes in the relevant electoral laws but the process was very slow.

The JI chief urged the committee to come up with a roadmap and remove flaws from the electoral laws.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, coalition partner of the JI, supported Sirajul Haq in the Senate polls. After winning elections, Siraj will quit the provincial assembly seat.

He was elected MPA from Lower Dir district in the 2013 general elections. He quit the provincial cabinet as a senior minister after he was elected the JI chief last year.

The JI chief asked the federal government to fulfil its commitment and form a judicial commission to investigate rigging in the 2013 general elections. He also said he wanted to see PTI members back in parliament.

Siraj said the proposed diversion of Pakistan-China Economic Corridor route would create a sense of deprivation among the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and some underdeveloped areas in southern Punjab.

He said the Chinese ambassador to Islamabad had already clarified his government’s position on the corridor but the federal government should also clarify position on it.

He clarified that his party would oppose change(s) to the multibillion dollar project.

The JI chief said his party would launch a countrywide campaign from April 5 to create awareness among the people of this redundant socio-economic system in the country. He said corner meetings and rallies would be organised at the district and ward levels to convey the party’s message to the people.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play