Jamaat-e-Islami's Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher today questioned the neutrality of several advisers in the interim government, as well as officials in the Election Commission, Secretariat, and police, claiming that 70 to 80 percent of them remain loyal to one political party.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna, Taher said some advisers were misleading the chief adviser.
"We told CA that 'we have confidence in you, but some of your men are working in favour of a particular party.' We told him 'you need to be alert and cautious about them,'" he said, adding that Jamaat had not demanded their removal but had drawn attention to the matter.
Taher, accompanied by Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar and assistant secretary generals ATM Masum and Rafiqul Islam Khan, said the caretaker government issue was not discussed as it is still under hearing in the Supreme Court. He noted that unless the court rules otherwise, the interim government would continue to function as a caretaker administration, and any discussions about this would be "premature."
The Jamaat leader urged the chief adviser to ensure a level playing field before the election. He said Yunus assured them that he would personally supervise the electoral process, and the postings would be made through a lottery system. He added that they accepted this on condition that there be no "invisible hand" behind the process.
Taher also pressed for the July National Charter to be given constitutional recognition through an executive order, saying it was an extra-constitutional arrangement that could be adopted in exceptional circumstances.
On the referendum, Taher said BNP had initially opposed it but later agreed under public pressure. He criticised BNP's proposal to hold the referendum and election on the same day, insisting the referendum must be held first.
Taher further said Jamaat proposed that the chief adviser, not the president, issue the order on reforms if legally permissible. "Everyone knows whose product this president is," he remarked.
"They [the chief adviser and his team] told us they would review the legal aspect. If there's no legal obstacle, the order will be issued by the chief adviser, not the president," Taher added.