KARACHI: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq on Saturday called the two years of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government a failure on all fronts as the party brought a storm of inflation, disappointed the nation on Kashmir issue and could not meet the promise of transparent accountability.

He said the people’s hopes from the PTI government had already died and Prime Minister Imran Khan should think about his policies before it’s too late.

“This government, which had claimed to bring transparency, should tell the people about spending of Rs1,200 billion it has allocated to fight the challenges of coronavirus pandemic,” he demanded while addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-i-Haq, the party’s Karachi headquarters.

Says SC order in Saad Rafiq case is a charge sheet against govt’s accountability process; slams Kashmir policy

“We don’t expect the PTI government to come up with these details and set a precedent of transparency. The party, which won the elections in the name of accountability, is itself surrounded by several scandals. This government is no different from the past rulers.”

Accountability process needs to be reviewed

He said the recent detailed order of the Supreme Court on the bail pleas of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Khawaja Saad Rafiq was a charge sheet against the government’s accountability process. The government needed to review its accountability system in line with the apex court’s verdict, he added.

He said during the two years of the PTI government bad governance had reached the level that even ministers and advisers were declaring their government a complete failure.

“It’s now an open secret that the government has been victimising opponents, damaging democratic institutions and destroying the already fragile economy” said Senator Haq.

“Despite that, it has been enjoying full backing from institutions. Time is running out for Imran Khan and his team,” he added.

The slogan of accountability, he said, had become a joke and mafias had become so powerful that the government was helpless in taking any action against them.

“Why the government has not arrested sugar barons after completion of the sugar inquiry report?” he asked.

He said that all claims of the PTI to introduce a powerful system of accountability after coming into power proved a pack of lies.

The JI chief lamented that the opposition parties also failed to play their role and they seemed least concerned about public issues.

Kashmir solidarity day on Aug 5

He said the government’s Kashmir policy was a failure as it had failed to expose India at international forums.

“But we have decided to keep the Kashmir issue alive and for that purpose we will be launching a countrywide campaign from next month. On August 5, we will observe the Kashmir solidarity day across the country,” he added.

He said the Pakistan Steel Mills, Pakistan International Airlines, Pakistan Railways and other institutions were the assets of the country.

The government, he said, instead of selling them at throwaway prices, should try to fix the problems and make them profitable organisations. Action was needed against those who intentionally destroyed these institutions just to secure their interests, he said.

He said the three so-called mainstream parties had failed to address the problems of the people. He said the JI will fully participate in the upcoming local government elections.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2020