Lofty aims: ‘Tyranny rife in nation since its inception’

Siraj addresses scores of farmers in Khairpur Tamewali

BAHAWALPUR:

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq said on Tuesday that tyranny had been enshrined in the nation since its inception.

He was addressing scores of farmers in Khairpur Tamewali. Haq said a corrupt aristocracy had looted national wealth. He said the rulers of the nation should fear the day when farmers felt compelled to march to Islamabad to secure their rights.

Haq said the JI would establish a standard system of education in the nation, provide farmers with interest-free loans, abolish the general sales tax on agricultural equipment and waive the loans of small farmers after coming to power. He said underprivileged farmers and labourers were tax paying citizens who had never hesitated to shed their blood to preserve national sovereignty.

Haq said the nation would thrive if the farmers thrived. He said the government had used public finances to import agricultural produce from India and the United States of America (USA). Haq said had the same amount been given to Pakistani farmers then the agriculture sector would not be in doldrums.

He said the JI did not support any form of taxation other than Zakat and Ushr. Haq said taxing the poor had enabled the rulers to lead enviable lifestyles.

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He said they had misappropriated taxes and laundered money abroad. Haq said the VIP culture and non-developmental expenses had been adjusted against “the blood of the nation.” He said he would grab “politicians residing in Islamabad by their collars” if he got word that the police had harassed any farmer in the area.

Haq said the courts had failed to dispense justice to the people. He said the JI wanted to see a Quran in the hands of the chief justice. Haq said only this would ensure that small farmers were treated on par with waderas.

He said the party would ensure the free provision of medicines for diseases including jaundice, cancer, heart and lung diseases and thalassemia after coming to power.

Haq said the JI would provide underprivileged families with necessities including ghee, sugar, lentils, rice and flour at subsidised rates when it came to power. He said the people should jettison their differences and unite to bring about an Islamic revolution in the nation.

Haq said only the implementation of a system based on the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him (PBUH) would enable the nation to overcome the challenges confronting it.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2015.