Voice of dissent: ‘PM’s visit to US a disappointment’

MARDAN: JI General Secretary Liaquat Baloch said the prime minister’s four-day visit to the US was a disappointment. Speaking at a convention in Shergarh, Mardan on Sunday, the JI leader said PM Nawaz has made the people of Pakistan “slaves of World Bank and US” by repeatedly seeking foreign aid. “Pakistan has a large number of natural resources and the government should utilise them and not rely on foreign aid,” he said. According to Baloch, the government must make a consistent effort to stabilise the economy. The general secretary claimed India is conspiring against Pakistan from Afghanistan and the government must remain vigilant at all costs. “India claims to be a secular country,” he said. “The recent killing of Muslims in India shows this is far from the truth.” The event was organised to show solidarity with seminaries. The JI leader insisted seminaries and mosques have no links to militants in the country. “These are mere allegations,” he said. “Everyone in the country knows who is involved in militancy and target killing.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2015.