SWAT: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Senator Sirajul Haq said here on Monday that there was no real democracy in the country as the rulers came into power through selection instead of elections.

He was speaking to his party workers and the students, who completed their courses at Al Markaz Islami in Swat.

Referring to the recent report by Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) regarding the democracy index which ranked Pakistan as 105th, he said that the report was based on facts.

“Parliament, media and courts are under siege while elections mean nothing because prime minister, chief ministers and ministers are selected,” he alleged. He said that it was need of the hour to restore real democracy in the country.

“The elite class, which ruled the country turn by turn, stands united under the umbrella of PDM. They did nothing for the country but only ruled it for their personal interests,” said the JI chief without naming PML-N and PPP.

He said that the elite class enslaved people while decisions about the country were made in the US instead of parliament. “No positive or healthy activities are carried out in our assembly daily but the sessions have become centres of abuse and foul talks,” he said.

Mr Siraj said that Rs100 million was spent on the two-hour session of the National Assembly daily but it bore no fruits for betterment of the country. He said that promulgation of presidential ordinance was an undemocratic step and a clear defeat of the government.

He said that international community lost trust in the government as it was taking frequent U-turns. “The champion of the change has divided the country into many parts on financial basis. Poverty prevails in this government,” he added.

The JI chief said that his party was struggling to restore real democracy and Islamic Sharia in the country. He said that JI would introduce a social welfare system where education, health and justice would be free for all.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2021