LAKKI MARWAT: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq has said that both Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the ruling Pakistan Democratic movement lack the ability and vision to rule the country.

Addressing a worker convention of his party in Ghoriwala town of Bannu on Sunday, he criticised the government for its failure to control price hike and inflation. He said that before formation of coalition government, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Bilawal Bhutto Zardai would protest against inflation but they were silent about price hike.

He claimed that Asif Ali Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif had also invited his party to join the coalition government but he rejected their offer. “The sole aim of rulers is to protect their own interests instead of serving people,” he added.

The JI leader said that both PDM and PTI were involved in Panama, Toshakhana and other cases and they lacked the capability and vision to rule the country. He said that the power struggle between PDM and PTI brought Pakistan to the dangerous point of bankruptcy.

“PTI ruled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for nearly nine years but it destroyed the system instead of providing any relief to people and introducing sustainable development plans for their betterment and prosperity,” he said.

He claimed that no leader of JI was involved in corruption. He said that his party, if came to power, would bring back Rs4,000, looted from Pakistan, from foreign banks. “We have a very clear agenda to enforce Islamic system in the country with the support of people,” said Siraj. He added that if people reposed trust in JI, it would deliver up to their satisfaction and would protect their rights.

He said that his party, if voted to power, would eliminate interest-based economy, promote Zakar and Ushr systems and provide special allowance to unemployed and elderly persons. He said that the countries made progress when presidents and prime ministers were made accountable to law.

JI provincial chief Mohammad Ibrahim, general secretary Abdul Wasi, Bannu district chief Ajmal Khan, Naurang tehsil council chairman Azizullah Khan, Akhtar Ali Shah and other leaders also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2023