HYDERABAD: Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan’s emir Sirajul Haq has said that establishment most often supports corrupt politicians but it is now a test for judiciary to deal with convicted PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, who has returned to the country after four-years of self-exile.

Haq said at a gathering of JI workers here on Monday that what would Mr Sharif, who failed to deliver in his past three terms as premier, do if he were elected prime minister for the fourth time.

He said that Nawaz’s brother was a prime minister in the Pakistan Democratic Movement government while other party leaders held important portfolios. As long as dynastic politics remained entrenched in Pakistan, democracy could not flourish, he said.

He said the country faced a critical situation as it suffered from multiple ailments like weak economy, bad governance and corruption.

Says democracy cannot flourish as long as dynastic politics remain entrenched in Pakistan

He said the current government policies had turned Pakistan into a begging bowl despite the fact that the country was blessed with huge natural resources of oil, gas and minerals.

He stated that every Pakistani citizen owed Rs275,000 to international moneylenders as the country was under Rs73,000 billion debt.

He said that Sindh, which had been ruled by Pakistan Peoples Party for the last 15 years, had become a chronic case of lawlessness, poverty, dacoits’ raj and political uncertainty.

He said that the longest PPP rule had proved to be an era of destruction and deprivation. Pakistan had become the most expensive country in South Asia and even countries like Bhutan, Afghanistan and Iran had surpassed it in terms of economy, peace and progress, he said.

The JI chief said that despite that, Pakistan could be extricated from the crises by recovering looted wealth from politicians. Only power of vote could change the system and leadership in the country, he said.

He asked party workers to start preparations for general elections because electoral dynamics this time were different. JI did not believe in fielding investors and businessmen and allow them to win on JI tickets and then loot resources, he said.

He said that JI workers were the party’s asset, and advised them to work hard. JI was working for a welfare state, whenever the party was given a chance the party would prove its mettle, he said.

He said that it was high time that JI candidates accelerated the pace of their election campaign and undertake door-to-door visits.

He deplored the fact that the US and UK were supporting Israeli bombardment of Palestine. Israel was committing war crimes, he said.

He said that indifference of Muslim rulers towards the Palestine issue was painful, and asked party workers to collect funds for Palestine and make it a subject of discussion in public gatherings.

Al Khidmat Hyderabad presented a cheque for Rs10m to JI emir for victims of Israeli aggression in Gaza.

Earlier, JI emir offered condolences to bereaved family of veteran grower leader Abdul Majeed Nizamani in Baqar Nizamani village near Tando Mohammad Khan.

He said that late Nizamani was an agriculture expert and a patriotic Pakistani. Nizamani always stood for the rights of his fellow growers, he said.

Separately, in a media talk in Thatta on Monday, the JI emir reiterated that Nawaz Sharif’s return home would not bring any good to Pakistan.

He said the country’s politics had been dominated by two dynasties and the country would get rid of them only if people used their votes wisely. The two families were responsible for the persisting economic crisis, worst-ever, and growing unemployment in the country, he said.

He said that laws with hidden western agendas like the Transgender Act were being imposed on Islamic countries including Pakistan. Only Islamic laws could address growing unrest in Muslim countries, he said.

In Sindh, he said, the party ruling the province for 15 years was responsible for the chronic lawlessness and other ills. “Only fair and transparent elections offer a solution to the country’s problems,” Siraj­ul Haq insisted.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2023