Siraj vows to resist changes in economic corridor route

PESHAWAR: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq on Tuesday said the Baldia Town tragedy in Karachi was a test case for the government and it should act according to the report of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT).
Speaking at the “Guest-Hour Programme” of the Peshawar Press Club, Sirajul Haq said the spilled blood of innocent labourers killed in the Baldia Town incident and May 12 massacre called for justice.
“The government should perform its duty instead of making political compromises on the blood of innocents,” he added. He said the JI would not allow the government to further delay provision of justice to the bereaved families.
Siraj said it was not the right time for the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to forge an alliance with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) at this stageparty for the tragedy in which more than 250 labourers had been killed.
He said action should be taken against all terrorists irrespective of their political affiliations, religion, caste, colour and creed. “A terrorist is only a terrorist whether he wears beard or shave it,” he added.
Criticising the federal government for diverting the route of the Kashghar-Gwadar Economic Corridor, the JI chief said the government had created a sensitive problem by changing the route.
“The government should take the national leadership into confidence on the sensitive issue,” he added. He said the government spent billions of rupees on Kalabagh dam but in vain. He said the government should refrain from changing the route of the Kashghar-Gwadar Economic Corridor.
“The government should uphold the national interest instead of obliging a minister or bureaucrat,” he added. He said JI would resist changes in the route of the economic corridor.He said the government was not strong and that’s why it failed to pass the benefit of cut in the prices of petroleum products to the people. “The government should take measures to pass on the benefit to the common people,” he added.
Sirajul Haq said that the government should introduce reforms in the tribal areas to improve the life standard of tribespeople and bring the area as per with the rest of country. He said the development budget of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) was less than of the budget of any big city in the country.