Corruption-free Pakistan: Opposition leaders to send TORs to prime minister

JI chief says party wants a trickledown effect for accountability

PESHAWAR:

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq said the opposition leader in the National Assembly would send terms of reference (ToRs) to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on behalf of all parties on that side of the bench. He said if these were accepted, the PM would want to solve such matters.

He was addressing a news conference at Al-Markaz-e-Islami in the city, he said JI wanted accountability across the board and it should not be limited only to the Panama Leaks.

“JI wants accountability to have a trickledown effect,” he said. “The ball will be in PM’s court after the opposition sends the ToRs and recommendations. It depends on Nawaz if he wants to solve the problems or aggravate them further.”

He added, “Those in previous governments, who looted national wealth and transferred to foreign accounts, should also be investigated and taken to task.”

Siraj said accountability should start from 1947 to the Panama Leaks so that looted money could be brought back to the country and spent on the welfare of the people.

He alleged the ruling party tried its best to remove the names of the PM and his family members from the leaks, but failed to do so.

Anti-corruption bill

Siraj said JI would soon table an anti-corruption bill in the National Assembly to curb the menace, adding opposition parties were being contacted for the purpose.

“It seems the PM and the ruling party is not in favour of accountability. If they were, they should have presented themselves for accountability first rather than suggesting it should start from previous governments.”

According to Siraj, the Panama Leaks were part of the problem, while JI wanted across-the-board accountability to do away with financial, moral and electoral corruption.

He said the leaks have exposed “the true faces of rulers” and those who claimed complete honesty.

The list of the leaks included people from ruling party and the opposition.

“Even the judicial system itself is crying for reforms, but the rulers have failed to respond to this demand,” he said.

The JI chief said raising a hue and cry and blaming each other would not help “hide the sins of corrupt individuals”.

He sought public support for the party’s corruption-free Pakistan agenda.

Siraj announced a meeting with the party leadership on May 9 to discuss the future course of action so the drive could be launched more effectively and made a success.

He said the next phase of the agenda would also be announced during the meeting.

“We will raise our voice against corruption to each and every individual on the street.”

Siraj asked the political leadership to throw out corrupt elements from their parties if they wanted to rid the country of such wrongdoings.

The JI chief said that a specific league of people had been holding the country hostage for 68 years and were protecting only each other’s interests.

“This political club has to go and JI will rid the nation of it,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2016.