NOWSHERA: The Jamaat-i-Islami on Tuesday threatened to begin agitation against the proposed introduction of shirt-and-trouser uniform in the province’s all government schools.

“Unfortunately, the PTI-led government has neither taken our leadership into confidence nor has it consulted it on the proposed change in school uniform. We’ll agitate if the government doesn’t abandon the uniform change plan,” JI provincial chief Mushtaq Ahmad Khan told reporters after meeting the party’s district shura and leaders in Nowshera cantonment area.

JI provincial vice chief Mirajuddin, district chief Haji Noorul Islam, deputy chief Haji Inayatur Rehman and information secretary Yasir Ijaz were also present.

The JI provincial chief said the introduction of shirt-and-trouser uniform in government schools was a conspiracy meant to harm Islamic values and culture.

Regrets govt didn’t take it into confidence on the change

He said some people wanted to impose imperialistic culture in Islamic society and that was unacceptable to his party.

Mushtaq Ahmad said the sense of deprivation and inferiority complex prevailing among people of the province couldn’t be removed by changing school uniform.

“The government will have to take solid steps to ensure provision of quality education to the people,” he said.

The JI leader criticised the federal government over poor relief activities in the Oct 26 earthquake-hit areas and said the centre had miserably failed to play due role in the relief and rehabilitation of disaster victims.

He said 60,000-80,000 people were badly affected by the earthquake and 80 per cent of them continued to live in the open.

Mushtaq Ahmad insisted the Rs0.8 relief package given out to the earthquake-affected families was meagre and therefore, it should be increased from Rs1 million each.

He praised Al-Khidmat Foundation for rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The JI leader urged the government to speed up rehabilitation of disaster victims saying this will help them pick up the threads of life yet again.

He said the government should also immediately find ways and means to send Fata refugees back to homes.

Mushtaq Ahmad said the fresh US financial support for the US would further burden Pakistanis through new taxation.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2015