Lahore, Liaquat Baloch, Deputy Amir and Chairman of the Election Cell of Jamaat-e-Islami, emphasized the importance of a transparent and impartial electoral process in the upcoming 2024 elections in Pakistan. He stressed that equal opportunities must be provided to all political parties and called for the Election Commission to ensure strict adherence to the code of conduct to avoid controversies similar to those in 2018 and 2013 elections, which he believes pose threats to national security and stability.
According to Jamaat-E-Islami Pakistan, the announcement was made during a press conference in Mansurah, where Baloch, along with Deputy Emir Dr. Farid Paracha and Information Secretary Qaiser Sharif, stated that the central parliamentary board of Jamaat-e-Islami has finalized the nominations of 243 candidates for 266 seats in the National Assembly. This decision comes after considering recommendations from district and provincial parliamentary boards. Furthermore, 531 candidates will contest a total of 593 seats in the provincial assemblies. The party has also allocated candidates for general seats, as well as seats reserved for women and minorities in the National Assembly and specific seats of the Provincial Assemblies.
Baloch highlighted the distribution of Jamaat-e-Islami candidates across various regions of Pakistan, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Sindh, Karachi, and Punjab. He noted that the party has distributed 62 percent of its tickets among youth, signaling a significant focus on engaging younger demographics in the political process.
The Deputy Amir criticized the previous ruling parties for their divisive tactics and the establishment’s role in perpetuating these divisions. He declared that Jamaat-e-Islami will not form alliances with any political party in the elections. Baloch expressed hope that voters will choose Jamaat-e-Islami for stability, peace, development, and prosperity in the country, highlighting the increased political awareness among the people and the exposure of incompetence of previous rulers.
Responding to a question, Baloch addressed rumors regarding the resignation of senior judges from the Supreme Court, hinting at past occurrences without elaborating further.
Dr. Farid Paracha, in his statement, pointed out that 88% of Jamaat-e-Islami candidates hold graduate and post-graduate degrees, including many PhD scholars, engineers, and doctors. He listed several prominent candidates, including Sirajul Haq, Liaquat Baloch, and others, contesting from various constituencies across the country.
Dr. Paracha also urged the Election Commission to implement measures for ensuring transparency in the election process, including the release of results in both words and numbers to polling agents and obliging political parties to submit detailed statements of election expenses.