LOWER DIR/BANNU: Former Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq has strongly opposed the implementation of the Customs Act in Malakand division, vowing to resist it.

He announced plans for a grand jirga involving all political parties after Eidul Fitr to discuss the ‘official neglect’ in the region.

Addressing an Iftar-dinner in Timergara here on Wednesday, he accused Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of surrendering the country’s sovereignty to the International Monetary Fund.

He also accused the ruling elite of endangering the national interests to appease the IMF, resulting in economic instability and increased hardship for the masses.

Siraj says jirga to be called after Eid to discuss ‘official neglect’ in region

Mr Haq said lawlessness had eroded the government’s authority, pushing the country into chaos.

He blamed the country’s prolonged crisis on a lack of adherence to Islamic principles, poor governance and economic policies.

He stressed the urgent need for fair and transparent elections in the country. Commenting on electoral reforms, he emphasised that only a genuine democracy free from external influence could resolve the country’s challenges.

Regarding the arrest and extradition of Sharifullah to the US, he criticised the government’s inaction in securing Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s release, calling it an effort to appease US President Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, Jamaat’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa south chief Mohammad Ibrahim has asked the political and military leadership to keep Pakistan’s interests supreme and resolve the conflict with neighbouring Afghanistan through dialogue.

“The US is hatching conspiracies to bring Pakistan and Afghanistan at war with each other, so the government should be proactive to the situation to foil all such conspiracies,” he said while speaking at a press conference in Bannu on Wednesday.

The JI leader said that such conspiracies were also made in the past to start a war between Pakistan and Iran but the leadership of both the countries thwarted the malicious designs.

He asked the government to improve diplomatic and trade ties with China, Iran and Afghanistan.

Mr Ibrahim said Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey should announce visa free policy on the pattern of Europe so that people of these countries could travel freely.

He strongly condemned the attack on Jaffar Express in Sibi district of Balochistan and asked the government to ensure safe and prompt recovery of all hostages.

He expressed his grief over the loss of life in the tragedy and prayed for the early recovery of the injured persons.

Flanked by other JI leaders, Mr Ibrahim said the government should stop military operations as these actions could further aggravate peace and law and order situation.

He demanded of the government to exclude the names of Samad Khan and other tribal leaders of Bannu district from the Fourth Schedule and open Juma Khan Road and other arteries for traffic as the closure of roads was causing inconvenience to the general public.

He also asked the government to withdraw cases against Samad Khan and other leaders of Aman Pasoon.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2025