Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on Tuesday also cast doubt at the impartiality of Caretaker Interior Minister Malik Habib Khan following three major political parties -Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), demanded removal of the minister for his statement in favour of Nawaz Sharif.
Talking to media persons after finalising electoral alliance with Dr Abdul Qadir Khan-led Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz Pakistan (TTP), JI Chief Syed Munawwar Hassan pointed out two statements by the caretaker interior minister to what he termed as controversial, saying that the caretaker Prime Minister should come up with explanation.
He grilled the caretaker interior minister for his statements in which he opined that deployment of army at polling stations was not a good idea and the remarks, which were described as in favour of head of a political party.
"We were hopeful to get a good interior minister after Rehman Malik, but what we noticed the statements of the caretaker interior minister in last few days one can say...Aasman Sai Gira Khajoor Mein Atka," he remarked.
Earlier, he announced that JI and the TTP have principally decided to jointly contest the upcoming general elections by fielding joint candidates across the country. He also appealed the people especially the youth to come forward and vote for the joint candidates of JI and TTP to get rid of those who have ruined the country.
He also pointed out that conspiracies were being hatched to delay the upcoming general election, saying that as the elections are coming closer, the incidents of targeted killings, forced disappearances and kidnappings for ransom were rapidly increasing in Balochistan.
"These incidents are indicating that some forces don't want the election to be held in time and the caretaker government should take adequate measures to stop the incidents," he said, adding that there exist serious apprehensions among Balcoh leaders that need to be addressed at the earliest.
He further said that he had recently visited Balochistan and also met with Balochistan National Party (BNP-Mengal) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal and discussed all these issues in detail.
To a question, he said that the JI was currently in talks with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for seats adjustment for the forthcoming elections, however, no decision have yet been taken.
About the possible revival of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), the JI chief ruled out any such alliance at this stage as all political/religious parties have already been allotted their separate election symbols.
Speaking on the occasion, TTP Secretary General Chaudhry Khurshid Zaman said that Dr Abdul Qadir Khan would not contest elections while the party will field 175 candidates across the country in the elections.