‘Citizens suffer as bad governance impacts essential services’

JI chief terms timely, transparent elections crucial for national stability

LAHORE:

Shedding light on Pakistan’s justice provision ranking, resource mismanagement, and the failures of past governments, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Amir Sirajul Haq has said the ruling elites have worsened the country’s problems through an intricate web of challenges.

Focused on justice provision, resource management, and governance failures, Haq’s discourse was a stark examination of the nation’s current state.

Highlighting Pakistan’s global justice provision standing at 129th among 146 countries, Haq drew attention to the paradox of privileged judges coexisting with resource scarcity.

He underscored the detrimental impact of bad governance on the country’s trajectory.

The discourse dived into the alarming realities of essential services, where clean water scarcity becomes a daily harbinger of death.

Haq also mentioned the plight of out-of-school children, soaring national debt, shuttered factories, and persistent power cuts.

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Acknowledging the human toll of terrorism, he revealed the grim statistic of 85,000 Pakistanis martyred in bomb blasts.

Haq, placing blame on past ruling parties, accused them of subjugating national concerns to foreign interests. He condemned their silence on global issues and their failure to advocate for the return of Dr Aafia from the US.

In a declaration signalling the end of the era of political elites, Haq asserted that electoral consequences await those who fall short in delivery.

He underscored the pivotal role of the people in shaping the nation’s destiny, emphasising the weight of the impending February 8 elections.

Addressing Senate resolutions proposing election postponement, Haq denounced them as unconstitutional affronts to the house’s dignity. He stressed the imperative of timely and transparent elections for national stability.

The Jamaat-e-Islami leader, critiquing governance across all parties in the last five years, cited corruption cases, escalating prices, and the perpetuation of rulers’ privileges.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2024.