JI Emir Rejects Any Move to Suspend Constitution, Accepts APC Invite

Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman on Friday said his party would not support any government move to suspend the Constitution, impose governor’s rule or declare an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He made the remarks after a delegation of the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP) met him in Islamabad and invited JI to attend an All-Parties Conference (APC). JI accepted the invitation. The meeting focused on the political situation in the country, particularly developments in KP.

The JI delegation included Vice Emirs Liaqat Baloch and Mian Muhammad Aslam, Islamabad JI chief Nasrullah Randhawa and Information Secretary Shakil Ahmed Turabi.

The TTAP delegation comprised Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Asad Qaiser, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, Aamir Dogar and Salman Akram Raja.

Rehman said political parties needed to sit together and resolve the country’s problems through dialogue. He said the ruling elite were taking unilateral decisions while keeping the people out of the political process.

“Jamaat-e-Islami will not support any step that suspends the Constitution or disrupts the system,” he said, adding that the government and PTI should hold meaningful negotiations.

The JI chief said PTI founder Imran Khan was the head of his party and its leadership should be allowed to meet him. He also called for resolving concerns regarding Khan’s health and implementing Supreme Court decisions in letter and spirit.

He demanded the release of women detained in connection with political protests, including Imran Khan’s sisters, and said detained and ailing political leaders should be granted bail in accordance with the law.

“Delays in talks by the government are aggravating the situation. If the government makes progress, the problems can be resolved,” Rehman said, adding that political differences should be settled through dialogue.

He said JI stood with all political forces seeking restoration of the political process, protection of fundamental rights and continuation of democratic activity. He also urged political parties to support JI’s positions on inflation, petroleum levy and payments to independent power producers (IPPs).

Barrister Gohar thanked Hafiz Naeem and the JI leadership for accepting the APC invitation and supporting PTI’s demands. He said the two sides shared common principles and that the rule of law was essential for restoring peace.

He said the opposition had been unable to get justice through existing forums and was therefore raising its voice before the public. He rejected the idea of imposing governor’s rule or emergency to suppress public dissent.

“An APC will discuss every issue, and we want Jamaat-e-Islami to help us formulate its agenda,” Gohar said.

He said KP was facing terrorism and that people were losing their lives while the province was using its own resources to fight militancy. He also complained that the federal government had not provided the province its due share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award.

“Terrorism anywhere in the country ultimately causes loss to Pakistan,” Gohar said.

Allama Raja Nasir Abbas said better decisions could be reached through consultation on national issues. He said the country’s system had failed to address the problems of ordinary people and urged all those who had contribute to framing the Constitution to sit together and find a way out of the crisis.