SARGODHA: Jamaat-i-Islami Secretary General Liaqat Baloch says the country is on the verge of anarchy while the government is confused and it is taking refuge under the umbrella of the army.

He said JI emir Sirajul Haq Awami would announce the Awami agenda in a public meeting in Sargodha on August 23.

He was talking to the people gathered for prayers in connection with Qul for Ejaz Hassan, brother of Malik Mahmood Hussain Awan, district naib emir of JI Sargodha.

Mr Baloch said there was no need of enforcing Article 245 in Islamabad, adding that the government had lost its control over all institutions. He advised the government to give up dictatorial rule of one family and avoid undemocratic tactics which might result into chaos and unrest among the public which, he apprehended, might pave the way for induction of undemocratic forces.

The JI leader said it was right of the opposition parties to hold peaceful demonstrations against the wrongdoings of the government and the country would suffer if such a protest was stopped.

He advised the political parties, including PML-N, PPP and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, to discourage accepting turncoats into their parties who, according him, damaged democracy.

Baloch said one million internally displaced persons were facing hardships and the government must focus on their rehabilitation. He said Pakistan must make a move to unite Muslims on the issue of Palestine, taking concrete steps to stop genocide of innocent Muslims there. The JI would hold a gathering at Islamabad on August 10 to express solidarity with Palestinians, he said.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2014