Jamaat warns of siege to EC if mobile phone ban not withdrawn

Jamaat-e-Islami has warned of laying siege to the Election Commission, EC, if the decision to ban voters from carrying mobile phones within 400 yards of polling centres is not withdrawn immediately.

The warning came in a statement issued on Monday, February 9, by Jamaat assistant secretary general and central publicity department chief Ehsanul Mahbub Zubayer.

In the statement, he said the decision to impose a mobile phone ban around polling centres ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election and referendum amounts to imposing unwarranted control over voters instead of ensuring their freedom and security.

He said Jamaat-e-Islami is strongly demanding the immediate withdrawal of this “unjust decision” by the Election Commission. Otherwise, the party, along with people from all walks of life, will besiege the Election Commission office and force the withdrawal of the decision.

The Jamaat leader added that ensuring a free, fair and acceptable election requires providing voters with the opportunity to exercise their franchise in an independent and fear-free environment.