LAHORE: The Jamaat-i-Islami will continue its struggle against the prevailing system of status quo by staying away from the politics of self-serving interests of the ruling and opposition alliances.

JI emir Senator Sirajul Haq said on Saturday on the first day of a three-day meeting of the Central Shoora here at Mansoora that feudal lords, the agents of the imperialistic forces, were in charge of the affairs of the country for decades who did nothing for the masses.

The shoora will discuss the current political situation, annual performance and future strategy. Mr Haq made it clear that the country could default on payments if the policies continued in the economy, health, education and other sectors. He said the true democratic system based on the principles of Islam was the only way forward to put the country on track.

He said the masses were no more ready to trust the tested parties and wanted to get rid of the ruling elite as soon as possible. He said the JI would fully participate in the local government polls. He said if voted to power the JI would bring real change in the country.

The JI chief also called for depositing a fine of Rs4.59 billion imposed on Pakistan by a UK court by selling the assets of those who hired the US firm Broadsheet LLC in 2003 for the recovery of the assets of Pakistanis in the US and the UK.

He regretted that the asset of not a single Pakistani could be disclosed but the country had to pay the fine from the national exchequer.

Published in Dawn, Jannuary 3rd, 2021