LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami emir Sirajul Haq has asked the PDM government to provide relief to the masses or ‘go home,’ saying that those who held long marches against the inflation are trying to justify it.

“People have rejected the justification of the PDM and PPP’s unity government,” he said while talking to the journalists at the Lahore Railway Station at the start of the third phase of the JI train march on Monday.

Siraj condemned the State Bank of Pakistan’s move to challenge the Federal Shariah Court’s decision against the interest-based economy, saying the JI would never accept the anti-constitutional act of the central bank.

Led by Sirajul Haq, the JI on Saturday launched three-day march from Rahim Yar Khan in protest against skyrocketing inflation, rampant corruption and interest-based economy.

“The State Bank’s step is a clear violation of the Constitution of Pakistan. Riba (interest) constitutes war against Allah Almighty and the Prophet (PBUH),” Siraj said.

He added that the country was full of resources and inflation and its other problems were due to bad governance, corruption and mismanagement by the rulers.

He said the rulers had compromised the sovereignty of the country by making full surrender to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The government, he said, had prepared the budget on the dictation of the IMF, making impossible for a common man to make both ends meet. He said in every difficult phase, the ruling class sought sacrifices from the poor.

“How long the masses will keep sacrificing? Why the ruling elite itself is not ready to sacrifice even its 10pc of its wealth for the country?”

Mr Siraj said the JI was holding the march for the rights of the people while the three main parties of the country were responsible for the plight of people.

He said the PML-N-led unity government had also failed to bring about any change after three-and-a-half years of destruction during the PTI regime.

The three parties, he said, were exposed badly and the people were fed up with them and added that the JI would continue struggle for transforming Pakistan into welfare Islamic state.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2022