LOWER DIR: Jamaat-i-Islami chief and candidate for NA-6 Sirajul Haq has promised introducing Sharia-based economic system in the country and providing 350 free electricity units to every consumer if the party was voted to power.

He was addressing a public gathering in Musabad Munda area here on Tuesday.

JI candidate for PK-17 Izazul Mulk Afkari was also present.

Mr Haq alleged that major political parties like PML-N, PPP and PTI were involved in corruption, thus weakening the economy.

Jamaat chief also promised ridding Pakistan of the clutches of World Bank and International Monetary Fund. He added abolishing interest-based economy and co-education in the country was his first priority.

Mr Haq said JI would establish separate colleges and universities for girls. He said separate markets would also be set up for women. He said small industries would be set up in rural areas to provide jobs to skilled youth.

The JI chief said they had promised to provide free education during the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government and now students were getting free education up to grade 12th in public sector schools and colleges in the province. “We have carried out record development projects in Dir, including blacktopping of link roads, construction of bridges, provision of electricity, construction of schools and colleges, technical colleges and hospitals,” he claimed, saying the MMA government had introduced the Islamic banking system in the province, which was being copied by other Muslim states.

The JI chief claimed his party had been part of the government twice in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but none of its MPAs or ministers was accused of corruption. He insisted JI would end corruption in Pakistan and lay the foundation of an Islamic welfare state.

Haji Malik Nazar Khan, senior journalist Malik Faiz Musakhel, Ali Khan, Qari Abdul Rehman and Habib Hassan resigned from Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and joined the JI.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2024