BATTAGRAM: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq has said that incompetent and corrupt leaders have failed to revive economy and restore peace in the country.

Speaking at a public gathering here on Thursday, he said that after remaining in power, both Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and member parties of Pakistan Democratic Movement had no justification to seek votes from people.

He claimed that JI always strived for enforcing a corruption-free and merit-based system in the country. He said that it was not an objective of his party to get power but to work for implementation of Islamic system in the country.

The meeting was also addressed by JI district emir Nisar Ahmed Khan, Abdul Wasey, Tariq Shirazi, Khalid Khan Ajmera, Khalid Akhundzada, Haji Imdad, JI youth wing president Salim Owais and others.

Siraj claimed that PDM leaders including Asif Ali Zardari and Shehbaz Sharif visited him in Lahore to seek his support during the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan, but he did not support them.

JI chief says PTI and PDM have no justification to seek votes from people

He said that former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif offered him ministries in his government but he did not accept his offer. He said that the country suffered from economic problems owing to incompetent leaders. He said that in the youth did not have employment opportunities due to lack of education.

“Now almost every household has a graduate but they are unemployed. People are looking for livelihood and employment in other countries,” he added.

The JI chief said that the amount of funds received by Battagram after the earthquake could have changed the destiny of the district, but it could not happen owing to the corrupt system.

He said that law and order situation was worsening but no one was ready to accept responsibility. He said that only army could not establish peace in the country. The support of people was needed for maintenance of peace, he added.

“Pakistan has mineral deposits including gold, copper, uranium and others. It is an agricultural country and has water resources, but still our people are leaving aborad in search of livelihood,” said Mr Siraj.

He said that the country was indebted $83,000 billion. “All these loans have gone into the coffers of corrupt politicians,” he alleged. He said that his party would abolish system of interest after coming to power.

He said that through Al-Khidmat Foundation, his party sent Rs1.35 billion to Gaza established offices in Istanbul and Egypt to support Palestinians.

On the occasion, Saeed Ahmed Malikal, Mohammad Alam and their friends announced to join JI.

Saeed Ahmed Malikal said that there was shortage of doctors in the local hospitals. He said that all roads in the district were in dilapidated condition. He said that four union councils of Allai, which generated 121 megawatts of electricity, were deprived of power.

He said that joined JI to resolve the issues of Battagram as well as the country.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2023