Chief Adviser Prof Yunus has "ignored the logical aspirations of the people" by announcing that the July Charter referendum and national elections will be held on the same day in early February, alleged Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar on Thursday.

At a press conference held at party head office, Parwar expressed the party’s initial reaction to the chief adviser’s national address regarding the July Charter implementation process.

Not only Jamaat, but seven allied parties have been requesting the government to hold the two elections on separate dates. However, Prof Yunus speech has failed to resolve the crisis, Parwar noted.

To justify its request, Jamaat has referred to the country’s long history of election violence and rigging, Parwar said.

In every previous general election, at least some troubles caused concerns, and many a time, polling centres were shut down midway, Parwar said repeating the party’s logics earlier presented before the government.

“If national elections are halted at a polling centre, what would happen to the referendum votes at that same centre?,” he asked.

Jamaat would host a central meeting after Thursday evening to discuss the chief adviser’s speech and take a stand in this regard. The seven allied parties would do the same, and afterwards a coordinated response will be given, Parwar told reporters at the press conference.