BAHAWALPUR: Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq has declared that his party accepted no taxes except zakat and ushr, adding the rulers are enjoying luxurious life with the taxes paid by the poor.

Addressing a ‘Kissan rally’ at Khairpur Tamewali, about 45kms from here, on Tuesday, the JI emir criticised the government, saying it was burdening people with unnecessary taxes.

He said there was an annual corruption to the tune of Rs15 billion in the country.

Mr Haq said the farming community that was feeding the country by toiling day and night was not only denied basic needs but also a good return for the crops. He said the rulers should be afraid of the day when farmers would launch a march on Islamabad for their rights.

He said if the JI came into power, it would provide interest-free loans and other agriculture inputs to the farmers.

He regretted that the government imported wheat from the US and India, paying these countries hefty amounts in foreign exchange. He said if the same amount was spent on the country’s farmers, they could bring prosperity.

He was also critical of the conduct of the courts, which he alleged, did not provide justice to the litigants. He said instead of the present judicial system, the JI was striving for enforcement of the Islamic system of justice.

He said only locals had the right to Cholistan’s land and no outsider should be allotted the land in the water-starved area. He said JI would upgrade Cholistan to district after coming into power.

JI Punjab Emir MPA Dr Syed Waseem Akhtar, Kissan Board senior vice-president Jam Hazoor Bakhsh and others also addressed the rally.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2015

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