Maulana Abdul Halim, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, emphatically stated that a national referendum must be organized by November in accordance with the ‘July National Charter.’ He believes that if the referendum is not held before the general election, the entire electoral process will be questionable.
He made these remarks to journalists on Thursday (October 29) after a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) at the Election Commission building in Agargaon. Jamaat is demanding that the referendum be held quickly, as 25 political parties have signed the ‘July National Charter’ agreeing to it.
Key Demands on the Referendum
• Separate Events: “The national election and the referendum should not be held on the same day,” said Maulana Abdul Halim.
• Deadline: “The referendum must be completed within the month of November.”
• Basis: “The current talking point is the July National Charter. Twenty-five political parties have signed it.”
Stance on the RPO Amendment
Regarding the amended RPO (Representation of the People Order), the Jamaat leader issued a warning: “Those who act contrary to the spirit of July will, Insha’Allah, be condemned by the people. All these arrangements are happening because of the context of July. Therefore, if the referendum is not held first, the national election will become questionable.”
Furthermore, while some parties have demanded amendments to the revised RPO, Jamaat has taken the
“Some parties have asked to bring amendments to the revised RPO. We have stated that the RPO must be kept in force exactly as it is.”
Focus on Level Playing Field and Future Actions
The Jamaat leader also stressed the importance of ensuring a level playing field for all parties in the election.
He informed the press that an eight-party meeting had decided to monitor the situation after submitting their memorandum and will announce a new course of action on November 3rd. He added that the CEC listened to their concerns attentively and assured them of the Commission’s role in considering their demands
position that the RPO should be maintained as is:
