LOWER DIR: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq blamed Pakistan Democratic Movement and Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf for the current inflation and mismanagement in the country.

He was addressing a convention organised by Jamiat Ittehad-i-Ulema (JIU) in Balambat here on Sunday. The convention was also addressed by JIU provincial chief Maulana Asadullah, Mufti Imtiaz Marwat, Maulana Dr Attaur Rehman, Dr Aamir Munir, Maulana Inayatullah Islahi and others.

The JI chief said that ulema had a huge responsibility to guide the Muslims on the right path. He said that anti-Islam elements were struggling to divide the Muslims in groups and create rifts among religious clerics. He asked the participants to shun their differences and get united for the sole cause of Islam.

Siraj criticised the caretaker government for not heeding to people’s demands, saying it was the continuation of the PDM government. He said that the caretaker prime minister was requesting International Monetary Fund to let the power consumers pay their bills in instalments.

JI chief says prices being increased on IMF diktat

He alleged the prices of petroleum products, gas and electricity were being increased on the IMF dictation. He said the JI had launched a protest movement against inflation and price hike in the country.

ANP: Awami National Party central vice president Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has said that his party leadership is ready for accountability if judges, generals and bureaucrats involved in corruption are made accountable.

He was addressing a convention of party workers in Gosum area here on Saturday. ANP district president and former MPA Haji Bahadar Khan, Haji Hidayatullah, ANP Balochistan general secretary Muhabat Khan, Bakht Baidar and others also spoke on the occasion. Hundreds of party workers from Jandol and other parts of the district attended the event.

Mr Hoti alleged that PTI left behind more than Rs1,000 billion loans after ruling Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for moer than nine years. He said that corrupt politicians were gathered around PTI chief Imran Khan, who was brought into power in 2018. He said that people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been kept deprived of their rights by the centre.

He said that people of Malakand division should be provided with due rights and resources before imposing taxes upon them. He said that electricity was produced in KP through water of but people were provided with the electricity generated through furnace oil.

The ANP leader said that KP had natural resources but its residents were crying for basic needs like electricity, gas and food. He said that former chief justice Saqib Nisar, former chief justice Umar Ata Bandial and retired General Faiz Hameed were responsible for the deteriorating situation in the country.Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2023