Lahore, Liaqat Baloch, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate from NA-123 and 128 in Lahore, has termed the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister and Chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), as a “tragic murder” and a “great national tragedy.” During a meeting at the Central Election Cell in Mansoora, Baloch recalled his experience of working with Bhutto on various political fronts, acknowledging her as a talented and courageous leader.
According to Jamaat-E-Islami Pakistan, Baloch criticized the failure of successive governments, including those led by the PPP, to fully uncover the truth behind Bhutto’s assassination. He noted that although Benazir Bhutto continued the political legacy of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the PPP’s subsequent tenure was marred by vested interests and corruption.
Baloch also addressed the current state of national politics, describing it as beset by apathy, emotionalism, self-interest, and toxic polarization. He lamented the ongoing imposition of incompetent factions upon the nation, criticizing the role of the establishment in perpetuating this cycle. Baloch expressed concern over the detrimental impact of these dynamics on Pakistan’s political landscape.
In his speech, Baloch called for an intensive nationwide election campaign to convince voters to support Jamaat-e-Islami’s vision of ending the prevailing crises of insecurity, despair, and mistrust. He emphasized that nomination papers for national and provincial assembly constituencies, including seats reserved for women and minorities, have been submitted, with priority lists provided to electoral commissions.
The meeting also saw the joining of Zaheer Ahmed Wark, a local leader of Muslim League (N) from Sheikhupura, to Jamaat-e-Islami. Baloch welcomed Wark and urged him to work towards establishing an Islamic welfare system in the country. Other prominent leaders, including Rana Gafa Dastgir, Hafiz Irshad Gujar, Rana Mumtaz Ahmed, Rasheed Ahmed, Farhan Shaukat Hanjara, and Raja Muhammad Akram, were present at this event.