Wait and see: Siraj decries ‘London politics’

Jamaat leader says govt must be given time to deliver.

LAHORE: Those talking in London about the welfare of Pakistan should come back and help steer the country out of the crisis, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) ameer Sirajul Haque said on Sunday.

“Instead of trying to destabilise the government, the opposition should give it a chance to deliver,” Haque told journalists after a party meeting at Mansoora.

He said any clash among the institutions would harm the democratic order. All political parties should work together to resolve people’s problems, he said.

“A tug-of-war has gone on in the country for five years. This has harmed the economic growth.”

He said the Election Commission of Pakistan had failed to ensure fair elections last year. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan had the right to protest against the rigging.

Haque urged the government to announce a development package of Rs100 billion each for Karachi and the Tribal Areas.

He said the tribal people were as patriotic as those living in Islamabad and had equal right to national resources, he said.

“Instead of pushing them to the wall, the government should work for their welfare.”

He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should expose those sabotaging peace talks with the Taliban. He said the political parties consulted by the government had counselled talks with the Taliban but it had launched a military operation against them.

The JI leader regretted that the prime minister had not brought up the Kashmir and water issues during his recent visit to India.

“Also, he did not meet the Hurriyat leaders. This does not bode well for the freedom movement in Kashmir,” he said.

JI Secretary General Liaquat Baloch was also present.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2014.