I modified your JS: http://jsfiddle.net/JyPLc/1/ , it works.
$(document).ready(function(){
$("#searchPopContent").dialog({
autoOpen: false,
modal:true,
title: "Question issue",
width: 400,
close:{
}
});
});
$("a.que_issue").on("click", function (e) {
var hypertext = this.innerHTML;
var que_id = hypertext.substring(3);
var title = "Question issue";
$("#question_id").val(que_id);
$("#qns_id").val(que_id); //this is just to show it works, can delete it
$("#searchPopContent").dialog('open');
return false;
});
You should modify the HTML first, then just call the dialog() to show to popup.