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