ISLAMABAD: The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has proposed to hold an All Parties Conference (APC) after Eidul Fitr, with the sole agenda of pushing for simultaneous elections in Pakistan.
Sources familiar with the matter said that the JI would spearhead the APC, with efforts underway to invite Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to the conference.
موجودہ حالات سے نکلنے کا بہترین راستہ یہی ہے کہ عوام سے رجوع کیا جائے اور قومی انتخابات کے لیے ایک تاریخ پر اتفاق رائے پیدا کیا جائے۔
انتخابات ایسے ماحول میں ہوں کہ اس کے نتائج سبھی تسلیم کریں اور اس کے نتیجے میں مزید افراتفری نہ پھیلے۔— Siraj ul Haq (@SirajOfficial) April 15, 2023
The JI has long been advocating for simultaneous elections, arguing that holding split-up polls is not in the country’s best interest. The party believes that the government and the opposition should agree on a date for simultaneous elections, and it plans to negotiate with the PTI and PML-N’s nominated delegations ahead of the APC.
Jamaat-e-Islami to push govt for holding elections before October
According to sources, the Jamaa-e-Islami will push for the government to hold the elections before October and for the PTI after May.
To settle the matter of elections, the PML-N has asked Khawaja Saad Rafique and Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to engage in negotiations with the JI.
JI Emir Sirajul Haq held separate meetings on Saturday with PM Shehbaz and Mr Khan to initiate talks between the two leaders for simultaneous elections.
وزیراعظم میاں شہبازشریف اور سابق وزیراعظم عمران خان کے ساتھ ملاقات مفید رہی، مذاکرات کے ذریعے آگےبڑھنے پر اتفاق ہوا۔
پاکستان کو اس وقت جس سیاسی، معاشی، آئینی بحران کا سامنا ہے، اس کا حل کسی عدالت یا اسٹیبلشمنٹ کے ذریعے ممکن نہیں، سیاست دانوں کو اپنے مسائل خود حل کرنے ہیں pic.twitter.com/PTwa0NI88B— Siraj ul Haq (@SirajOfficial) April 15, 2023
لاہور – امیر جماعت اسلامی سراج الحق کی سابق وزیراعظم عمران خان سے ملاقات، ملک کی موجودہ سیاسی صورتحال پر تبادلہ خیال
جماعت اسلامی کے سیکرٹری جنرل امیرالعظیم، نائب امیر لیاقت بلوچ جبکہ تحریک انصاف کے رہنما اعجازچوہدری، محمودالرشید اور شبلی فراز بھی اس موقع پر موجود تھے۔ pic.twitter.com/MnBiz6H5rl— Jamaat e Islami Pakistan (@JIPOfficial) April 15, 2023
The JI’s proposal for an APC comes amid heightened political activity in the country, with the government and opposition parties gearing up for the next general elections, scheduled to be held in 2023. The JI’s call for simultaneous elections is likely to add to the ongoing debate about the feasibility of holding the polls in one go.
The proposal has also received mixed reactions from political analysts and experts, with some arguing that holding simultaneous elections is a logistical challenge that requires careful planning and preparation.
Others have expressed support for the JI’s proposal, arguing that it would save the country from the costs and uncertainties of holding multiple polls.
The JI’s push for simultaneous elections is likely to be a key issue in the country’s political discourse in the coming weeks, as political parties and stakeholders engage in negotiations and discussions to settle the matter.
