Liaqat Baloch, the Deputy Emir of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan, has voiced profound concerns over the country’s political direction, issuing a stark warning that the 27th Constitutional Amendment is “more fatal” than the preceding 26th Amendment. His remarks underscore a growing anxiety regarding the long-term implications of recent changes to Pakistan’s constitutional structure.
Addressing an event in Lahore, Baloch launched a sharp critique against the major political players—the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), MQM, and their allies. He accused these parties of being intoxicated by the “lust for power”, suggesting that their focus is compromised by the allure of authority rather than national interest.
In a surprising revelation concerning the internal dynamics of the ruling coalition, Liaqat Baloch alleged that the federal government alliance is actively “blackmailing its own allies” by deliberately allowing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to continue its governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. This indicates a complex power play designed to maintain a delicate political balance.
Furthermore, Baloch articulated his party’s national ambitions, asserting that if Jamaat-e-Islami were to “conquer Lahore,” their writ and influence would extend across the entire country. This suggests a strategic focus on Punjab’s political heartland as the gateway to national dominance.
Concluding his address, the JI leader highlighted the importance of the party’s upcoming public gathering (Ijtema-e-Aam), expressing hope that it would serve as a catalyst for unifying the nation and guiding it out of the current political and economic crises.
