LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) emir Sirajul Haq on Friday demanded the government take practical steps to eradicate the interest-based economy or be ready to face the countrywide protests.

Addressing the JI workers at Mansoorah on Friday, he said the government must issue directions to the banks to take back their appeals against the Federal Shariat Court’s decision against interest.

Despite the government’s announcement, he said, 14 appeals were yet to be withdrawn, creating an impression that the rulers were reluctant to fulfill their commitment.

Haq said the interest-based economy was a violation of the Constitution and added that Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had issued clear directions to introduce Islamic model of economy while inaugurating the State Bank of Pakistan. Seven decades had passed, yet the rulers had not taken a single step in this direction, he lamented.

The JI chief demanded the government introduce the Riba amnesty scheme and build the tax system on Zakat and Ushr. The IMF, he said, controlled the national economy and the western non-government organisations (NGOs) prepared the national curriculum. He said the country would not witness any change in presence of these agents of the status quo.

Mr Haq said the JI had carried out a long struggle against the interest-based economy and time had come to take it to the conclusion. He said Islam provides solution to all the problems and the country needed the Islamic system.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2022