JI to elect new central Ameer in March

ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) would elect its new central ameer towards end of March, three months before incumbent Sirajul Haq completes his second five-year term.

However, Sirajul Haq would also run in election for the third term when party’s members would use their right of vote through ballot for continuation of democratic process in the party. Chief Election Commissioner Rashid Naseem on proposalof JI central shoora has named three top leaders of Jamaat for guidance of JI members who are voters, from whom the next ameer would be elected. The panel of three leaders from whom JI would be elected include Sirajul Haq, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman who is leading JI protest drive against alleged rigging in general polls and sitting Naib Ameer Liaquat Baloch. JI spokesman Qaisar Sharif, in a statement, said that the election process would be completed by March 31 on reception of ballot papers from across the country, while Chief Election Commissioner Rashid Naseem would announce result during the month of April. Qaisar Sharif said that JI is a democratic party having constitution as per injunctions of Islam. “We conduct elections to elect new ameer after every five years as per clause 17 (3) (A) and clause 4 of the Constitution,” he said. He said that as party’s Constitution, the process for election of new ameer is started three months before the incumbent completes his tenure. Other members of election commission include Bilal Qudrat Butt, Sardar Zafar Hussain, Engieer Attaur Rehman and Engineer Akhlaq Ahmad.