SWABI: Jamaat-i-Islami central emir Sirajul Haq on Saturday said the political parties, which ruled the country for decades but failed to deliver, lacked the capacity to address the current economic, constitutional and political crises.

He criticised those parties for blaming bad governance and corruption on each other and said they all were responsible for the country’s current woes.

Addressing party workers on Saturday, the JI chief said the country was supposed to have the Islamic system of justice and public welfare but “thieves” ruled it for decades.

He said the successive governments served their own interests instead of people’s.

Mr Siraj claimed that currently, courts didn’t dispense justice to people.

Renews call for immediate elections

He said there were separate systems of justice for the poor and the rich, so how things would work under such circumstances.

The JI chief said PTI chief Imran Khan got protective bail in nine cases within minutes.

He wondered if the courts would treat the poor like the PTI leader.

Mr Siraj said unlike the common man, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari, PTI chairman Imran Khan and leaders of other mainstream parties got relief in court cases.

He said leaders of the ruling and opposition parties called each other corrupt but got together whenever the need arose for the protection of mutual interests.

The JI chief said the Toshakhana, the state repository of gifts received by public officeholders from other governments and foreign dignitaries, was looted by the leaders of the PPP, PML-N and PTI alike.

He saidmembers of the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement and opposition PTI were power hungry politicians, who were striving to protect their political interests and didn’t bother about the socioeconomic plight of people.

“Leadership of both PDM and PTI are responsible for the current economic and political mess,” he said.

Mr Siraj claimed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration wasn’t capable of steering the country out of the current crises.

He said the rulers should relinquish power as if they stayed put any longer, the country would face its serious consequences.

The JI chief complained about the escalating inflation and said the people were struggling to make ends meet.

He said the prices of essential commodities as well as fuel tariff had reached an all-time high to the misery of the people.

Mr Siraj also said the rate of unemployment was alarmingly high in the country with the youth being extremely worried about their future.

He said the rulers should admit their failure to come up with the goods before stepping down to hold elections.

The JI emir claimed that the country was going to default on loan payments as the International Monetary Fund was delaying debt disbursement.

He demanded the immediate free and fair elections in the country and warned that any interference by “some” state institutions in the electoral exercise would deepen the current crises.

Mr Siraj also called for the reduction and control of essential commodities during the imminent fasting month of Ramazan.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2023