Peshawar rally: ‘Liberal’ parties made rich pickings in 5 years, say JI

Jamaat candidates say they will develop Peshawar on the pattern of Istanbul.

PESHAWAR:

Syed Munawar Hasan, chief of Jamat-e-Islami (JI), has said that the May 11 election is a contest between pro-American forces and those who want to get the nation out of Washington’s influence.

Addressing a public gathering here in Peshawar on Tuesday, the JI chief said that if people voted them to power they will craft a foreign policy in the best interest of the nation and will ensure fair distribution of national resources.

Munawar Hasan added that the ‘so-called’ liberal forces including PPP, ANP and MQM, who remained in power for the past five years, had followed American policies and protected their interests in the region. This, he said, had resulted in bloodshed and lawlessness in the country.

“We have rendered tremendous sacrifices for the creation of Pakistan and to implement an Islamic order rather than promoting liberalism in the country,” he said.

He alleged that, “the leaders of liberal parties had made a fortune for themselves during their government and did nothing for the development of the country.”

These liberal forces have no right to ask for votes from people because during their tenure military operations were carried out, countless innocent people died in the American war on terror and foreign forces violated Pakistan’s sovereignty in shape of Abbottabad operation and drone attacks, added Hasan.

The JI chief urged the people to vote for JI for it will protect Pakistan’s territorial and ideological borders and will pursue policies which will result in economic prosperity.

Hasan asked the Army chief to reconsider his statement in which he termed the war on terror Pakistan’s own war.

“We believe on the basis of solid evidence that the war on terror is not our war. This war is waged against us, against Muslim Ummah and against Jihadi movements in the world,” he said adding that, “we are not against United States but its policies which are against Muslims.”

At the gathering, JI provincial chief Professor Ibrahim and JI candidates contesting for national and provincial assembly seats from Peshawar also addressed the participants.

They pledged to restore Peshawar-to-Khyber train service if elected to power.

The speakers added that Peshawar city will be developed on the pattern of Istanbul.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2013.