MARDAN: Jamaat-i-Isalmi chief Senator Sirajul Haq has said that their party backs merger of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

He was talking to journalists in Katlang area here on Wednesday after offering condolence to JI local leader Abdul Jalal on the death of his wife.

Mr Siraj said that they were supporting merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but a decision in that regard should be made in the tribal areas instead of Islamabad.

He said that discrimination against the citizens of the country would not be allowed anymore.

He alleged that on one hand Wapda officials were disconnecting power supply to the houses of common people in case of non-payment of electricity bills but on the other hand corrupt leaders were looting the national exchequer ruthlessly and getting clean chit from the respective institutions.

‘‘Pakistan and corruption cannot go alongside as they are two opposite things,” said the JI chief. He added that they had not only launched train march and an effective anti-corruption movement in the country but also moved Supreme Court for a corruption-free Pakistan.

“It is need of the hour to hold accountable those, who are named in Panama leaks, as well as owners of other offshore companies,” said Mr Siraj. He added that those, who looted the country, did not deserve to be spared or give any relaxation.

The JI leader said that although federal government was using delay tactics in formation of commission regarding Panama leaks yet it could not succeed.

Mr Siraj said that Afghan refugees had spent a long time in Pakistan that’s why they should return to their homeland. However, he said that their return should not be a forced one as India would try to exploit the opportunity and use its lobby in Afghanistan against Pakistan.

The JI leader said that keeping in view interests of Pakistan, the rulers should make sure dignified repatriation of Afghan refugees so that a good and positive image of the host country could be left in their mind. It would bear fruitful results for people of both the countries, he added.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2016