MQM-P against cutting funds of army, institutions

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader and former interior minister of Sindh Rauf Siddiqui said on Saturday that the funds for the army and its related institutions should not be cut at all due to the geo-political and internal terror threats to the country.

Services of intelligence institutions should be obtained against foreign currency hoarders, he said talking to the media after appearing in the Special Anti-Terrorism Court.

He called Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a hardworking and sensible leader adding that the PM should order a crackdown against hoarders and profiteers at the federal and provincial levels to control artificial price hikes.

Siddiqui proposed a financial institution handling sadqah, zakat and khairat as a bank to provide loans to the needy on easy installments. This is the best way to provide trading and commercial assistance to the poor. The State Bank of Pakistan should exempt the Sadaqa and Zakat Bank from interest, he suggested.

He said that an economic emergency should be declared in the country to improve the economic situation.

Providing health services to ‘terrorists’

The complainant, Pakistan Rangers Sindh, was again absent for the hearing of the case of providing treatment facilities to terrorists at Ziauddin Hospital was heard before the special anti-terrorism court. Besides Rauf Siddiqui, Anis Kaimkhani, Waseem Akhtar and Usman Moazzam of Pasbaan also appeared before the court. Health Minister Qadir Patel and Dr. Asim did not appear.

The court again issued notices to the complainant on the request of the Sindh Home Department to withdraw the case because no witnesses were found against Ziauddin Hospital chief Dr Asim Hussain and others nominated in the case.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2023.