Siraj urges people to drive 'real change' via vote

Calls on ECP to curb unrestrained spending of wealth by candidates

PESHAWAR:

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Sirajul Haq chief on Tuesday said that the upcoming February 8 voting holds the key to laying the groundwork for a secure and thriving Pakistan, urging people to shun political actors and elect genuine representatives.

Addressing crowds in NA-6 Lower Dir, he urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to curb the unchecked and unrestrained spending of wealth by candidates vying for office. "Two Pakistans cannot coexist within one," he asserted, criticising the mainstream parties that, for seven decades, have allegedly burdened the people with inflation and unemployment.

"The dominant parties—PPP, PML-N, and PTI—while in power, led to economic deterioration and institutional fragility," he added. “The oppressive grip of landlords and corrupt capitalists, who believe in the hereditary right to power, has dominated our nation for too long.”

Read  Siraj vows to bury politics of heredity on Feb 8

He said it was time that this outdated system was dismantled through the force of voting. “True change will only materialise when genuine representatives of the people take their place in the legislative chambers.”

Quoting Hazrat Ali (RA), he said that a society can survive under disbelief but cannot endure under oppression. He lamented the persistent exploitation of the masses and condemned the cyclic elections of the same political entities that serve the same interests.

"The ruling parties' policies remain the same, only the faces change," the JI chief added. Regarding the JI's stance on the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), Sirajul Haq claimed, "We withheld support because we knew that their agenda was not rooted in public welfare or combatting corruption but seeking exoneration for their cases."

“During the past 15 years, coalitions led by PPP, PML-N, and PTI have failed in stabilising the economy or fostering national peace.” Sirajul Haq pledged to address the issues plaguing Malakand Division once elected, vowing that Jamaat-e-Islami, upon assuming power, would bring peace and prosperity to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Read Institutions must remain neutral in next polls: Siraj

He emphasised providing employment opportunities for the youth and ensuring the region's integration into the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through enhanced road connectivity. Highlighting their vision, he stressed the commitment to develop top-notch infrastructure, directing public funds towards the public's welfare while prioritising the upliftment of the underprivileged.

Regarding the significance of February 8, Haq underscored it as a pivotal moment to combat oppression, injustice, unrest, and inflation. He expressed determination to overturn the dominance of pro-American forces, criticising the cycle of power transitions and promising to forge a prosperous Islamic Pakistan in collaboration with workers, farmers, and ordinary citizens.

Emphasising the Islamic foundation of Pakistan, the JI chief reiterated Jamaat-e-Islami's mission to implement an Islamic system as the ultimate remedy for the country's challenges. “An ushr and zakat system will be instituted to eliminate reliance on interest-based practice,” Sirajul Haq added.