KARACHI: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Senator Sirajul Haq has criticised the federal government for what he called not passing the full benefit of falling oil prices in the international market to consumers. He termed the government’s announcement of Rs5 cut in the price of petrol a joke with people.

Mr Haq was addressing party workers and office-bearers in Karachi on Sunday.

He said despite tall claims the government had failed to provide any relief to people.

He claimed that the regulatory body Ogra had recommended up to Rs11 reduction in the price of petrol which itself was unjustified in the scenario of the falling oil prices in the international market. By rejecting the Ogra’s summary for reduction in the prices of petroleum products, the government had proved that it was totally unconcerned with the difficulties of poor people.

Sirajul Haq criticises government for not passing full benefit of falling oil prices in international market to consumers

The JI chief criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and said he was blindly following his advisers. The inflation was on the rise and there had been a continuous increase in the prices of essential commodities, but the prime minister and his advisers were trying to paint a rosy picture of the national economy, he added.

Mr Haq opposed what he called attempts to secularise the Pakistani society, saying that Pakistanis were religious people and attempts to promote secular values in the country would be thwarted.

He hoped that 2018 would be the year of change in the country and urged party members to gear up for the next general elections. The JI, he added, believed in democratic and peaceful struggle.

He said Karachi was the city of vibrant and educated people who always played an important role in the development of the country.

He praised services of late Abdul Sattar Afghani and Naimatullah Khan for Karachi and termed them beacons of hope for the city. He said local government representatives belonging to the JI would present their agenda before the people of the city and keep close contacts with them.

The JI chief stressed the need for an Islamic welfare state as per the concept of party’s founder Syed Abul Aala Moududi. But, he said, the change should come only through democratic way. A peaceful revolution can pave the way for an Islamic welfare state, he added.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2016