Jamaat-e-Islami Should Postpone Its Protest and Not Put Itself Through Needless Hardship: Rana Sanaullah

Lahore – Advisor to the Prime Minister and senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah has said that Jamaat-e-Islami should not put itself through unnecessary hardship and should postpone its protest.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, he said that Jamaat-e-Islami is a democratic political party, and its sit-ins and rallies take place within the bounds of the Constitution and the law. The government has attentively heard all of Jamaat-e-Islami’s demands during negotiations, where the Prime Minister held detailed discussions on important public issues such as electricity, load-shedding, and a reduction in petroleum product prices.

Warning against declarations of toppling the government, he said that one Jamaat-e-Islami candidate had stated that they would come to Islamabad and bring down the government. If toppling the government becomes the actual objective, there is a risk of violence, so friends in Jamaat-e-Islami are advised to avoid putting themselves through hardship.

In response to a question, the federal advisor revealed that an important meeting was held today at the Governor’s House with the Pakistan Peoples Party, in which detailed discussions took place on the tensions and differences that arose between the PML-N and the PPP during the Azad Kashmir elections, in order to reduce political tension.

On the ongoing debate regarding the creation of new provinces in the country, Rana Sanaullah said that this debate was not initiated from the right forum, as such matters should always begin in Parliament. Whether new provinces are to be created or not will be decided solely and only by Parliament. If it is the genuine desire of the people, no one can stop the creation of new provinces, and all political parties will accept the decision made in Parliament.

He said the government alone or on its own cannot decide on a referendum. Saying in advance whether provinces will be created or not is tantamount to dictating to Parliament, the competent forum. After all opinions are heard, the final decision will be given by Parliament. Meanwhile, the Punjab government has a serious intention to hold local government elections in the province, and all legal and administrative preparations in this regard are being reviewed.