JI announces decisive anti-government drive

Siraj says if SBP governor isn’t removed, central bank ‘can be besieged’

LAHORE:

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq has announced an anti-government movement, saying that Pakistan’s central bank is no longer in its control, rather it has been subordinated to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Addressing a public rally in Islamabad, the JI chief called for State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Dr Reza Baqir’s resignation, saying if he is not removed, “we can besiege SBP”.

He called for the premier’s resignation, saying that there are mafias all over the country, and 2022 will be the last year of the government. He also announced an anti-government movement that would culminate in Islamabad.

Siraj rejected the interest-based economic system, saying that Pakistan was not created for usury and corruption as Quaid-e-Azam himself spoke of an Islamic economic system. The Constitution also rejects this system and calls for a no-interest system, he added.

He said that other countries, including the United States, United Kingdom and Japan, have “reduced interest rates to zero” but Pakistan’s system was chained under a “conspiracy” as 35 to 45 percent of its income goes to interest-bearing loans.

He also said that the government makes false claims of a Islamic welfare state, while the experience of 75 years suggests that the country could not develop because of interest.

He added that the interest-free trade bill was unanimously passed by the Senate, but the government does not want to introduce it to the National Assembly.

The JI chief pointed out the “failures” of the government, ranging from Pakistan’s retention on the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) ‘grey list’ to the introduction of ‘mini-budget’. He suggested a nexus between the government and the opposition, saying that the latter facilitated the former’s moves instead of talking about the public’s problems.

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Siraj said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was with him in Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah when he promised to end the usury system. He asked why the nation continues to believe in their promises when they could not fulfil one made in Al-Masjid an-Nabawi.

He attributed the country’s rampant poverty to the interest-based system, which burdens the masses. He also said that people do not pay taxes in the country because of its corrupt rulers. He further pointed out how inflation is harming the masses.

The JI chief claimed that the government “sold Kashmir and handed it over to India”.

He asked Prime Minister Imran Khan to tell the nation how many houses did his government build-out of the five million houses promised by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

He said that the incumbent government’s schemes are the same as its predecessors. He asked how can those who came to power through the support of the establishment undermine it now.

He said that the government has mortgaged the country’s economy. “Today, the situation is that 27 million youngsters are unemployed and there is no welfare, while retired judges and generals have been rewarded with government jobs,” he added.

JI leaders Prof Muhammad Ibrahim, Mian Muhammad Aslam, Farid Ahmad Paracha, Ameer of North Punjab Dr Tariq Saleem and Ameer of Islamabad Nasrullah Randhawa also addressed the public meeting. The meeting was attended by thousands of people, including women, children and people from all walks of life.