Rulers only serve interests of feudals, capitalists: Siraj

LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami chief Senator Sirajul Haq has said the sole objective of the rulers’ politics is to protect the interests of feudal lords and they have least respect for the Constitution and the law.

The country’s politics is in the control of oppressive feudal lords and corrupt capitalists who legislate policies only to serve their interests and fill bank accounts at the cost of general public, he said while addressing the advisory council of the JI Lahore on Saturday. He expressed the hope that in 2018 elections, the MMA would emerge as a big political force. He urged the people to lend their support to the religious alliance to throw off the plunderers and mafias. Sirajul Haq asked the people not to repeat the past mistakes in the coming elections. He said the corrupt politicians were solely responsible for the problems facing the country.

He said the parties and individuals involved in corruption were in fact playing with the destiny of nation. They have divided the nation on ethnic, regional and sectarian grounds only to serve their own interests. On the other hand, he said, the JI was striving to unite the masses by raising them above petty differences to be able to meet the challenges being thrown by India and other enemies. Sirajul Haq said the west and the US were afraid of political Islam and were blaming the Muslims for terrorism. At the same time, they are spending billions of dollars to promote western immoral culture in Pakistan because of which Pakistani minor children are becoming target of uncontrolled desires heightened by the western values, he added. The JI chief said the country’s rulers were obstructing Islamic system because it demanded strict accountability and equality.

Meanwhile, JI central Shoora in a resolution adopted in its recent meeting expressed concern over the deteriorating economic condition of the country and alarming increase in foreign and domestic debts. The resolution called upon the government to drastically cut down on its expenditure and introduce tax reforms to generate more funds. It deplored the government for securing more loans to pay off the previous loans while the rupee was being drastically devalued and the budget deficit and trade deficit were increasing.

The JI Shoora noted that total loan of the country in December 2017 had risen to Rs 24 trillion while the government had sold Sakuk and Euro bonds valuing 2.5 billion dollar during the last few days and was still planning to sell more bonds in the world market. It demanded that tax net should be widened and net income above Rs 0.6 million per annum should be taxed. The tax rate should be lowered to bring maximum number of people under the tax net and the basic philosophy of the taxation policy should be to tax the wealthy and to spend on the welfare of the low-income people. This would require maximum dependence on direct taxes and the system of withholding taxes should be abandoned, it said.

The Shoora called for reviewing the free trade agreements with different countries as they were running in losses. It also suggested discouraging unnecessary imports and preparing a national agenda to expand exports. It stressed that all genuine refunds of the exporters should be immediately released. It also called for introducing modern techniques in agriculture to raise farm produce.

The Shoora also called for making appointments against important posts strictly on merit and making the accountability process transparent and quick. It also demanded construction of dams to overcome water shortage besides taking up the issue of India’s water aggression at the international level. The Shoora stressed that sensitive national assets such as the airports and the motorway should not be given on lease to secure more loans. Honest efforts should be made to revive the PIA, Pakistan Steel Mills and such other institutions and these should not be sold out on throw-away prices.