Sirajul Haq stresses role of youth as drivers of change

Vows that the party will work towards betterment of the youth if elected

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Amir Senator Sirajul Haq has said that the party will make the city literate and prosperous with the youth's strength.

The progress of the entire nation depends on Karachi - with it the country progresses or suffers, he said, speaking at a youth convention at Quaid’s Mausoleum on Sunday. The system of the Prophet (peace be upon him) is the solution to all the issues facing the country, said Haq.



He went on to say that linguistic politics have devastated the city and that it should be eliminated. We have gathered the youth of Karachi, he said, adding that now, the youth will change the city's condition. In the next elections, we will give 50% of our tickets to the youth and will bring them forward.

We will bring poor people and labourers to the assembly and Senate, he claimed.

The senator went on to say that today’s youth are despondent. We will provide the youth with job opportunities, we will make education free and accessible, we will restore sports for the youth and we will set up libraries, he claimed. Haq said the party will also provide homes to scores of homeless people. He said if elected, his party will facilitate youth who cannot bear wedding expenses and provide interest-free loans.



According to him, 7% of the federal budget would be allocated for education and citizens over the age of 70 would be provided old age allowances. “People wonder where the funds required for this would come from. We believe that controlling corruption will not only end debts but would also help families,” he said.



JI Vice-Amir Asadullah Bhutto, Karachi head Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, Karachi vice-amir Dr Osama Razi, youth president Zubair Ahmed Gondal, Karachi youth president Hafiz Bilal Ramzan, youth minority wing Karachi president Rashid Pervez and others also addressed the youth convention.

Haq said that he welcomed the youth leaders elected in the elections in the city and those who made their plans a reality. He said the youth is more powerful than an atom bomb. Today, the youth announce that Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and Mahmood Ghaznavi are their heroes, he said. Today, they promise to change the country and make it according to the dreams of Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal, he said.

Haq said the youth of the city are united and now, no power can enslave them nor could anyone put an end to their strength and power. He said that in order to uproot the corrupt system, the youth will use its power and strength.

International establishments fear the power of the youth and want to target the youth for ruining the country, but we have prepared the youth to confront the establishment, he said. Haq said there are numerous issues in Karachi but no one is willing to take on the responsibility of collecting garbage. He said that now the youth will work for it.



He held corrupt leaders responsible for ruining national institutions such as the Pakistan Steel Mills, Pakistan International Airlines and Water and Power Development Authority, which are on the verge of collapse. The steel mills employees have not been paid for the past five months, he said.

The Senate elections proved that that JI is the only party whose members did not sell their votes, alleged Haq, adding that leaders such as Abdul Sattar Afghani and Niamatullah Khan served the city. If given a chance, we will serve the city again, he vowed. He said that only JI can end corruption in the country and urged the people to vote for the party.