Siraj laments govt’s inaction, urges rich to help people

JI chief says destruction could’ve been averted by acting on Flood Commission’s recommendations

RAWALPINDI:

Lamenting the government’s inaction to mitigate floods, especially when the Federal Flood Commission had issued a forecast years ago, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq on Sunday called on the country’s rich to help the people.

Speaking to the media after overseeing the departure of relief goods, Siraj said he visited different cities and witnessed the resolve of the nation.

He said that the Federal Flood Commission had predicted floods four to five years ago, regretting that those who came to power just “kept making noise”.

He added that in three provinces, the landlords saved their lands by making reservoirs with the government’s money and the water was diverted to poor settlements. He pointed out how drought could have been averted if the water was diverted to dry areas of the country.

He further said that if the government had acted on the Federal Flood Commission’s recommendations, the country could have avoided so much destruction.

The JI chief said that the nation is going through a great tragedy, and it is everyone’s duty to save the country. He called on political parties to put aside their differences and work together to save the country.

Siraj said that relief goods worth Rs40 million were arranged in Islamabad and would be sent to Rajanpur. He said that 15,000 workers of the foundation are working for the victims, and the nation gave them Rs450 million. He mentioned how their volunteers, including doctors, are rendering their services to help the flood victims.

He also urged the people to collectively repent and seek forgiveness from God so that the country can get out of this calamity.

He lamented the behaviour of rulers and the attitude of the media, saying that the country was drowning, and their focus remained on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Shahbaz Gill.

The JI chief said that the local media “woke up” when international media started raising the issue, and the rulers only woke up when World Bank (WB) allocated funds.

He said that rulers conduct aerial surveys in helicopters, but five friends waited for a helicopter for hours and drowned. He added that JI would buy its own helicopter now.
He termed the aid of Rs500,000 to build a house a “joke”.

Calling on the rich to pay Zakat on their wealth, Siraj said that if this happens, there would be no need for assistance from the WB and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

He said that JI has formed a task force under Secretary General Amirul Azeem’s leadership to monitor the relief operation.

He also wondered why those senators who “buy” others cannot spend the same amount of money on saving the people.