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Published : 19 May 2025, 12:03 AM
Jamaat-e-Islami has agreed to the National Consensus Commission’s proposal to introduce a law barring anyone accused of crimes against humanity from contesting in elections.
The party has also proposed referendums to add a legal backing to the reform propositions.
Jamaat has also suggested establishing a caretaker government, appointing the most senior judge as chief justice, setting up a separate judicial secretariat, and forming a permanent commission for public administration.
Referring to the Electoral Reform Commission’s proposal of drafting a special law to prevent individuals accused of war crimes from participating in elections, Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher said the restrictions for convicted individuals to run for office should be extended to those accused of crimes against humanity, provided they have been formally charged.
He justified the decision by highlighting the gravity of crimes against humanity, which is a serious and exceptional category of offences. This makes it necessary to impose the restriction on those who are formally charged, instead of those convicted.
On the issue of legally recognising the reform agenda, Jamaat has proposed a referendum.
“We’ve said we want a referendum, whether it’s on the July declaration, the National Charter, or any other important issue. Jamaat-e-Islami wants the people to decide. The referendum will be the final decider.”
Asked whether the referendum should take place before or during the next general election, Jamaat’s nayeb-e-ameer said: “We’ll sit and discuss that again later.”
He also discussed Jamaat’s proposals regarding a caretaker government.
“We’ve suggested two options. One is that the last outgoing chief justice should lead the caretaker government. The other is to form a search committee to recommend a chief advisor.”
The search committee would include the prime minister, the opposition leader, and the chief justice, who would jointly recommend a chief advisor.”
Jamaat also suggested that the most senior judge must be appointed chief justice, provided there are no complaints against them in the Supreme Judicial Council.
Referring to the judiciary, he said: “We’ve proposed the creation of a separate judicial secretariat. It would operate independently and manage all judicial affairs, allowing us to achieve a truly independent judiciary.”
Jamaat also suggested establishing a permanent commission to oversee the various branches of the public administration.
Speaking on the election roadmap, he said that Jamaat wants elections, but only once reform agendas are fulfilled.
The National Consensus Commission is currently working to finalise the combined recommendations of the five reform commissions, and build consensus among political parties.
It asked 39 political parties about their opinions on the key recommendations submitted by the reform bodies. Based on their feedback, the Commission is now holding dialogues with the parties.
