QUETTA: Jamaat-i-Islami emir Senator Sirajul Haq has welcomed the announcement of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government to keep Pakistan out of war between Iran and the US.

Speaking at a press conference after concluding his five-day visit to Balochistan on Friday, he demanded formation of a commission to hold responsible those who previously threw the country into the America’s war. He said Pakistan had incurred losses of $120 billion to the economy and lost 75,000 lives being a part of the US war.

Underlining the need to conduct free and fair polls, he said it was the only way to put the country on the track of development. The JI chief said that planning to rig the 2023 elections had already started.

Speaking about deprivation of the people of Balochistan, he said that the past and the present governments did not make serious efforts to address issues of the biggest province that was bestowed with rich natural resources.

He said unemployment, poverty, corruption and nepotism had taken deep root in the province. The people were worried about the overall situation but the ruling elite seemed least interested in addressing their plight, said the senator.

About the missing persons issue, the JI emir lamented that no serious efforts were made for the recovery of the persons so far. He warned the government against rising public sentiments over the issue of the missing persons.

He assured the people of Balochistan that the JI would raise voice for their rights at every forum.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2020