QUESTION:

A formula was proposed by the ex-Premier and Chairperson of Pakistan People's Party, Ms. Benazir Bhutto. Accordingly a national government was sought to be constituted including also the military and the (Intelligence) agencies. What the Jama’at would say about it?

ANSWER:

The context in which the formula was given was that the country was facing a crisis. Foreign donors were imposing conditionalities that could only paralyze our economy and like the other developing economies, Pakistan was to become more dependent on the U.S. Benazir had thus pointed a very grim picture that we were subject of intrigues to divest our freedom. To face the challenge, she made the "proposal".

A basic question however, is: have we "suddenly" reached the formidable condition to which she has pointed? Or else, there are some people responsible for the current misery of the country....? Let it be ascertained first who brought the nation to this ravage and economic slavery? In fact those are the people whom Muhtarama again wants to get together for delivering and the corrupt elements of the political parties, who were responsible for this whole rot were now proposed to get together as liberators. What Muhtarama was not comprehending is the simple fact that people opt to join different parties because of the difference of ideology, approach or personalities, and that is why there are many different parties. If even these parties are brought together they would not agree to follow the same direction. Such a gathering can not meet any big challenge. We therefore, do not agree with the "solution" proposed by Muhtarama. We believe the correct approach is what the Jama’at is already following. We are inviting people to come to us and become our members. In Sha Allah, in a short while the first phase to organize public will be complete. Jama’at will then seek advice and consult the people (and its members) in big gatherings and public meetings. Allah the Almighty will certainly guide us to the path of justice and help us rip the veil of darkness, oppression and exploitation.

Involvement of Agencies in Toppling the Governments:

The Supreme Court took up a case filed by Air Marshal (R) Asghar Khan. During the proceedings the ex-Army chief, General Aslam Beg and some other people alleged that the official agencies and ISI etc. have been spending huge sums in favor of one party or to topple the other. How the Jamaat would react to it. Further, does it not prove that many a past elections in Pakistan were dubious and unjust?

We offer no specific and detailed comment, because the matter is before the court, which alone can decide whether the allegations were right or wrong. What any body can see however, is that General Aslam Beg first stated that so much was paid to such and such (party or person). When Asghar Khan filed the case, the General denied what he stated earlier. Further comments will only be possible when the court makes its final judgment.

Regarding the elections, there can not be two opinions that in our country, the process does not reflect the true opinion of the voting masses. The reason is that the common people are jacketed; they are slaves in the hands of landlord, feudal masters, "chaudhries", "khawaneen", sardars", "waderas" and the capitalists. These sardars and waderas threaten their peasants that: "they have (say) 200 votes in their village, if even one missed, they will be put to task and their honor trampled". During Jamaat’s membership campaign, our workers have been in areas where the poor and oppressed people would say: "better see such and such Chaudhry, make him member, then the whole village will avail your membership." Briefly, there are many constraints in the way of free and impartial elections. That is exactly why we say: that let the common people become Jamaat’s members, then they will be free from the "iron clamps" to make truly fair and right decisions.