FAISALABAD: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq said his party would like to see the 100-day plan of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) implemented, as the government has promised houses, health facilities and jobs for 10 million people.

Talking to reporters on Friday, he said the government had hinted at an increase in taxes on electricity and fertilisers, which would lead to inflation. The previous governments had also increased the prices of essential items, which irked the masses.

He further said only former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had been penalised following Panama leaks and that the Supreme Court should take up cases of 436 others mentioned in the leaks and decide their fate. The JI would take to the streets if no action was taken against all those whose names were mentioned in the Panama Papers, he warned.

The JI chief said all the money stashed abroad should be brought back and used for construction of dams. His party believed in the construction of dams that were essential for the development of any country, he added. Overseas Pakistanis were sending more than $20 billion yearly to Pakistan, which was moved abroad after corruption, he claimed.

“We appreciate that this government has refused to take more loans,” the JI emir said, adding that his party rejected the government’s decision of increasing taxes.

Talking about the issues of Faisalabad, Mr Haq said the district was an economic hub of Pakistan, which was facing shortage of electricity and gas. The business community was also facing problems due to fluctuation in supply of gas and electricity.

“The previous government also promised availability of safe water for Faisalabad, but could not honour its words,” he added.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2018