Jamaat demands lifting of ban on politics
Wednesday, 18 July 2007
Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh said the ban on political activities should be lifted to allow normal political activities keeping the current anti-graft drive on, reports UNB.
"Anything abnormal is not good…It's a seesaw situation wherein politics exists, politics does not exist, some are doing politics, some not, some Advisors are making political remark and speakers at TV talk shows are discussing politics, giving political opinion everyday under emergency, while party offices are locked," said Jamaat leader Mohammad Qamaruzzaman Tuesday.
Talking to the news agency, he said keeping the anti-corruption drive on, the government should withdraw the restriction on political activities so that the parties could discuss reforms and issues to ensure free and fair elections.
On Election Commission's July 15 election "roadmap" the Jamaat senior assistant secretary general observed that the voters' list could be finalized before the EC-set time till October next year. If the EC takes time till October for voters' list, it might be difficult to hold election and transfer power before the end of 2008.
On party reforms-a catchphrase in the political transition through the interim period-the Jamaat leader said reform is a natural process and it would not work if imposed on parties. Welcoming reform, he said it is one of the four agenda of Jamaat and his party has reached this stage through reform process.
About balance of power between the President and the Prime Minister, Qamaruz-zaman said the matter could be discussed at different forums, but any amendment to the Constitution must be done by an elected parliament.
"We want to uphold the democratic and constitutional process," he said.
"Anything abnormal is not good…It's a seesaw situation wherein politics exists, politics does not exist, some are doing politics, some not, some Advisors are making political remark and speakers at TV talk shows are discussing politics, giving political opinion everyday under emergency, while party offices are locked," said Jamaat leader Mohammad Qamaruzzaman Tuesday.
Talking to the news agency, he said keeping the anti-corruption drive on, the government should withdraw the restriction on political activities so that the parties could discuss reforms and issues to ensure free and fair elections.
On Election Commission's July 15 election "roadmap" the Jamaat senior assistant secretary general observed that the voters' list could be finalized before the EC-set time till October next year. If the EC takes time till October for voters' list, it might be difficult to hold election and transfer power before the end of 2008.
On party reforms-a catchphrase in the political transition through the interim period-the Jamaat leader said reform is a natural process and it would not work if imposed on parties. Welcoming reform, he said it is one of the four agenda of Jamaat and his party has reached this stage through reform process.
About balance of power between the President and the Prime Minister, Qamaruz-zaman said the matter could be discussed at different forums, but any amendment to the Constitution must be done by an elected parliament.
"We want to uphold the democratic and constitutional process," he said.