TIMERGARA: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq has said that heinous crimes like killings, robberies and corruption are rising in the country due to weak implementation of the law and justice system as the complainants have not been getting justice in decades.

He was addressing a condolence reference at the hujra of late MPA Malik Hasham Khan at Ouch here on Friday.

Hasham Khan, a leader of JUI-F, was shot dead by unknown assailants along with his uncle and a friend in Tazagram on Sep 14.

The JI chief along with party leaders also visited the residences of late Malik Ajab Khan, Bakht Zarin, Lateef Ahmad, Nasir ud Din at Ouch and Anwar Zeb at Osakai and offered Fateha for the departed souls.

Addressing a public gathering at Ouch, Mr Haq condemned the killings of Hasham Khan and his aides.

He said the criminals had been taking advantage of the poor implementation of the laws as they got bail and roamed openly after committing the crime. He said the JI had been struggling to change the system into one where no one was considered above the law.

Later, talking to journalists the JI chief said changing the opposition leader in the National Assembly was the PTI’s wish, and that the JI had not yet considered the matter. “Making alliance with MQM regarding replacing the opposition leader is the personal decision of PTI,” Mr Haq said.

He said corruption had become the biggest menace after terrorism in the country and billions of rupees had been plundered by the elite class. He said the JI wanted accountability of all the politicians, judges, generals and bureaucrats who had been involved in corruption.

Regarding the performance of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, the JI chief said he appreciated its good works and condemned where it erred.

He said the nation needed honest and clean leadership which could steer the country out of the current turmoil.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2017