QUETTA: Jamat-i-Islami (JI) emir Sirajul Haq said on Saturday he supported Pakistan’s decision to restrict movement of US diplomats in the country, but stressed that relations between the two countries must proceed on an equal footing and with mutual respect.

Speaking at a press conference here, the JI leader termed the United States untrustworthy, saying that Pakistan could no longer remain subservient to it.

JI’s provincial emir Maulana Abdul Haq Hashmi, former Balochistan Assembly speaker Matiullah Agha, Allama Jumma Asadi, Maulana Anwarul Haq Haqqani and other members of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal were present on the occasion.

JI chief regrets there has been zero improvement in law and order situation in Quetta

Senator Haq said there had been zero improvement in the law and order situation in Quetta, despite government expenditure of billions of rupees on attempts to improve the security situation of the provincial capital.

He deplored that people were being killed in the name of religion, sect and cast.

“Unfortunately 23 people were killed during recent incidents of violence in the provincial capital, but the provincial government remained silent and didn’t take any preventive action against terrorists,” he said.

The JI chief said Balochistan was rich with natural resources, lamenting that successive governments in the country did not use these resources for the development of the province and betterment of its people.

“All government departments are on the edge of bankruptcy... while the chief justice of Pakistan is taking steps to revamp certain aspects it is the whole system that needs to be revamped.”

Commenting on the escalating rift between state institutions, Senator Haq said there was a need for dialogue among all institutions because the current situation was bound to have adverse impacts on the national economy.

“When, we consider ourselves above the Constitution and law, such behaviour causes rifts and differences among institutions and politicians,” he added.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Iran stalemate
Updated 02 May, 2026

Iran stalemate

THE US and Iran are currently somewhere between war and peace. While a tenuous ceasefire — extended largely due to...
Tax shortfall
02 May, 2026

Tax shortfall

THE Rs684bn shortfall in tax collection during the first 10 months of the fiscal year is a continuation of a...
Teaching inclusion
02 May, 2026

Teaching inclusion

DISCRIMINATORY and exclusionary content in Punjab’s textbooks has been flagged in Inclusive Education for a United...
Water vision
01 May, 2026

Water vision

WATER insecurity in Pakistan has been building up for decades as per capita water availability has declined from...
Vaccine policy
01 May, 2026

Vaccine policy

PAKISTAN has finally approved its first National Vaccine Policy; a step the health ministry has rightly described as...
Labour rights
Updated 01 May, 2026

Labour rights

THE annual observance of May Day should move beyond statements about the state’s commitment to the rights of...