Sharifs have set worst example of arrogance: Siraj

Says we want to see law apply equally to rich and poor

QUETTA: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq has said that deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his sons have set the worst example of arrogance by refusing to appear before National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

“A law that is not applicable to the rich cannot be enforced on the poor,” the senator said while speaking at a public meeting on Sunday.

“We revolt against the system that does not allow the masses to ask rulers about their source of income,” he declared while giving the future line of action in connection with the JI’s Corruption Free Pakistan campaign in Islamabad on August 21 (today).



The JI chief said that issuing threats to the courts during GT Road rallies as well as talking about winding up the Constitution was not democracy. “The attitude of the ousted premier [Sharif] would have been totally different had the court decided in his favour,” he added.

Siraj said that a handful of families — backed by the international establishment — had taken the country’s politics hostage.

These types of families believe that they have every right over the property as well as the honour of the poor people, he said, adding that they get furious if someone inquires about their assets, factories or mills.

“When we talk about accountability, they [Sharif family] cry that democracy is in danger,” said Siraj, adding that threat to democracy was not from accountability, but from corruption and the system.

The JI chief said it was due to ideological corruption that East Pakistan became Bangladesh, adding that Pakistan had come into being on the basis of the Shahada, but was being divided on the basis of communities, sects and races.

Firing a broadside at the establishment, judiciary as well as the government, he said that accountability law should be applied to generals, judges and bureaucrats as well.

Stressing that no one should be allowed to frame the law according to his choice, he said an individual who could not prove himself sadiq (truthful) and amin (trustworthy) does not deserve to be an assembly member.



He said that those talking about dropping Articles 62 and 63 might even demand the abolition of the entire Constitution in the days ahead.

Provincial Amir of JI, Maulana Abdul Haq Hashmi, Akhundzada Abdul Mateen, Maulana Abdul Kabeer and Jamil Ahmed Mashwani were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 21^st, 2017.