MINGORA: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq said here on Wednesday that the ruling PTI failed completely to run affairs of the country.

Addressing a convention of JI workers at Grassy Ground, he said government failed to address the issues of people or legislate for the welfare of people. He alleged that laws were only enacted to appease the US and Jewish lobby.

A large number of JI workers attended the convention. JI deputy chief Mian Mohammad Aslam, provincial chief Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, district chief Mohammad Ameen and other leaders of the party also addressed the event.

“Introducing new law regarding child marriage is anti-Islam so it is unacceptable for us,” said Mr Siraj. He said that an incapable finance minister left the country’s currency a worthless piece of paper. “Another man, who was termed an agent of IMF by PTI leaders, has been made finance minister,” he added.

He said that army was issuing statements on internal and external policies that indicated that there was no political government in the country. “We want to tell the army and the present government that this country cannot afford new experiments,” added.

The JI chief also criticised the PTI leaders for what he called using abusive language against their opponents. He said that Pakistan came into being in the name of Islam but Islamic laws and system could not be enforced in the country during the last 71 years.

Mr Siraj said that Malaysia got freedom after Pakistan and China began the journey of development later than that of Pakistan. “Unfortunately despite having all the natural resources and enthusiastic youth, our budget cannot get passed until IMF and World Bank give us loan,” he added.

He said that people were committing suicides and selling their children due to poverty in the country. He said that unequal distribution of resources and injustice prevailed in the country as only the interests of a few families were protected.

“These powerful families are running the affairs of the country,” said Mr Siraj.

Earlier JI district chief Mohammad Amin Khan welcomed all the guests and party workers to the convention.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2019