PML-N backed out from ‘Vote Ko Izzat Do’ narrative for sake of getting power: Siraj

The Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan (JI) central emir, Sirajul Haq, on Sunday accused the Pakistan Muslim Leauge –Nawaz (PML-N) of backing out from its “Vote Ko Izzat Do” (respect the vote) narrative for the sake of getting power.

Addressing a large public meeting of the party titled ‘Karachi Declaration Convention’ at the Bagh-e-Jinnah on Sunday night, he said 76 years of the nation had already been wasted due to ruling dynasties running the country.

He said that those parties who remained in power during the last 76 years were actually responsible for corruption, lawlessness and poverty in Pakistan.

Despite rich resources of minerals, gas, coal and other natural resources, the country was in the grip of poverty from Karachi to Chitral only because of the incompetent ruling elite that was plundering the country for the last 76 years, Siraj said.

Bitterly criticising Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the JI emir, without naming PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, said one ‘prince’ wanted to become the prime minster merely on the basis that his maternal grandfather and mother had also been prime ministers of the country and his father served as the president.

Taking a jibe at the PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, Siraj said another veteran leader intended to hold premiership for the fourth time merely for the lust to remain in power.

He said the manifestos of the PML-N and PPP were nothing but eyewash. He said the two parties had been harping on the same mantra for last five decades and the country needed peace, prosperity, education and transparency.

The JI emir said the time of feudal landlords and capitalists was over and it was now the turn of people, labourers, farmers, doctors, engineers and rightful Ulema to lead the country.

He said that neither the National Accountability Bureau nor the courts could make accountable the corrupt drug mafia, sugar mafia and other cartels to eliminate corruption. He vowed that only the JI would make them accountable and bring back the stolen money of the people to the country.

He said 76 years of the nation had already been spoiled by the ruling elites as Pakistan and Pakistanis had been suffering because of all sort of crises despite the fact that the motherland had been blessed with all kind of resources. The JI chief said that now the nation had set out on a voyage of discovery for a secure future and there was no room for the traditional political dynasties.

He said that unfortunately, the PML-N had backed out from its ‘respect the vote narrative’ and surrendered to the powerful establishment for the sake of government and power. He opined that the ruling elite of the country had totally failed when it came to delivery in any sector, whereas its members continued to enjoy 90,000 vehicles, consume hundreds of billions of rupees in the head of fuel besides plundering the resources of the nation.

Siraj was of the view that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and PPP had destroyed the five decades of the city of Karachi.

He vowed to transform the megacity into a peaceful and prosperous city, if given a change. About the JI’s manifesto, Siraj said the party would not call non-Muslims of the country as minorities but they should also be known as Pakistanis.

He said the chapter of women rights in the party’s manifesto was written by the women wing of the party. He said the JI would made it mandatory for all government office bearers to submit an undertaking by their women relatives that their inherited rights had been delivered.

He said that if elected, the JI would ensure quality education, healthcare facilities, job opportunities and deliverance of other due rights.

Earlier, Karachi JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman addressed the public meeting and highlighted the miseries of the people of Karachiites. He said feudal lords had insulted the mandate of the city by playing nefarious tactics in the local government elections.

Talking about the political significance of the megacity, he said Karachi represented a total 96 seats in both houses of Parliament and due to this number, it was not possible for any party to constitute a government in the provincial assembly as well as the National Assembly without Karachi’s representation.

He said that despite its powerful political position, the city had become a hub of problems. “We can’t send everyone abroad,” he said, adding “we will have to challenge the mafia ruling over the city.”

He promised that if the JI came into power, it would introduce a light weight train service, bring 5,000 buses, offer IT education and launch health cards for the people of Karachi. He also vowed to increase the IT exports to $20 billion.

Addressing the political workers belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), he said the PPP and PML-N had already bought several independent contestants belonging to the PTI. He also condemned the police action against the PTI workers in the city.

He remarked that despite all problems and challenges, the city had been running the entire country and its economy. The progress and development of Karachi was directly linked with the progress and development of the country.

He also deplored the recent Intermediate examination results of Karachi stating that it was another conspiracy against the city to fail its students.

Terming the MQM a ruptured political balloon, Rehman said those trying to resurrect the dead horse would have to face a humiliating defeat.