LAHORE   -  Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Sirajul Haq has said the political parties should join hands to find the way for free and transparent elections. He said this in response to MQM former convenor Dr Farooq Sattar’s suggestion for unity among national leadership to bring the country out of the prevailing crises. Dr Sattar visited the JI headquarters Mansoora on Tuesday and held a meeting with Sirajul Haq. The visiting leader also announced support to the JI sit-in in front of Sindh assembly against the Sindh local government law, appreciating the role of the JI role in matters of national importance.  Talking to journalists, Sirajul Haq said the people had lost faith in the electoral system and so-called democracy. It was the need of the hour that political parties work together to restore the public trust in elections and democracy, he added.  “People believe the elections fail to bring any change. The political parties should hold dialogue for electoral reforms and they also introduce democracy within their own ranks,” said the JI chief, adding it seemed the PTI had made plans for digital-rigging in the next polls.

He said the PTI had virtually handed over the economy to the IMF and failed to provide any relief to the masses. Referring to the confession of the National Security Advisor Dr Moeed Yusuf that Pakistan was still under US influence, he said the atomic Pakistan of 220 million was not needed for the rulers who made full surrender before Washington.

He held the two main opposition parties equally responsible for the miseries of the people. He said the PML-N and the PPP ruled over the country for decades but could not bring any change. The PTI, he said, followed the track of the former governments and kept the status quo intact in three and half years. He said the politics of provincial biasness had weakened the country. He said the country was achieved after a long democratic struggle and it could not go ahead without strengthening democracy and democratic values.