LOWER DIR: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq on Tuesday said democracy in Pakistan had become a joke, while parliament was largely a club of feudal lords and capitalists.

“The country cannot progress until the intervention of judges, military generals and bureaucrats in politics is ended,” Mr Siraj told a lawyers’ function at the Timergara District Bar Association here.

The event was attended by lawyers in large numbers and addressed by association president Tariq Khan, general secretary Asadullah Khan and other leaders.

The JI chief said by-elections were no solution to the problems facing the country and its people.

He urged the federal government to hold general elections without delay and on the same day.

Mr Siraj said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf had turned elections a “joke” as its members first resigned from the assemblies but later wanted to contest by-elections

He said the by-polls, which would cost billions of rupees, would be a waste of money.

The JI chief said former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan, former president Asif Zardari, property tycoon Malik Riaz and 14 other Pakistanis had a total of more than Rs4 trillion assets but unfortunately, the country still begged others for money to revive the economy.

“The filthy rich should come forward and render their money to address the nation’s economic woes,” he said.

Mr Siraj said the people had lost confidence in the judicial system over its failure to deliver the goods. He said parliament, judiciary and media had been “enslaved.”

He said at a time when political and economic instability was at peak in the country, national institutions had failed to resolve the crisis.

The JI leader also resented the “poor” law and order situation in the country.

He urged lawyers to play an active role for ensuring the rule of law in the country.

Mr Siraj said as the country required sincere leadership, his party could steer the country out of crises.

He said if the Jamaat came to power, it would never turn to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank for money and instead, would manage things on its own.

Meanwhile, the JI emir also addressed a convention of party workers in the Qila Masjid of Munda area here.

He said only the Jamaat’s election to power promised national development and prosperity due to its honest and made-in-Pakistan leadership.

Published in Dawn, February 22th, 2023