LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq has called for a change in the present set-up through the power of vote.

Speaking at a reception here on Monday, he said except death and blood every other thing was costlier in the country.

He said a mafia of corruption elite, feudal lords and capitalists had been occupying the ruling system for 68 years and the status quo needed to be broken through the power of vote.

“The present system of exploitation and oppression has been continuing since independence because the masses are voting for the corrupt elite, feudal lords, vaderas and capitalists again and again.”

He said the lot of the common man would not improve unless the masses voted to power the honest and competent people from within themselves.

Referring to the alleged corruption and bad governance of the rulers, the JI chief said the attention of the rulers was entirely on projects which consumed steel, instead of brain.

He said no-one would trace corruption if the ranks of the government were full of plunderers.

He said if those travelling in limousines and living in palaces were hauled up, all the traces of corruption could be found out.

“Corruption is done not by the common man but by those occupying high offices and in the corridors of power.”

He called for declaring education emergency in the country and allocating the highest budget after defence for promoting literacy.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2015