Siraj asks govt to make IMF deal public

LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Senator Sirajul Haq has demanded the government make public its agreements with the IMF so far and asked why the PTI government who took votes on the slogan of transparency was keeping the masses in the dark regarding IMF’s new conditions.

Siraj was talking to the media at Mansoora on Monday with reference to the recent government talks and agreements with the IMF. He said the government had raised the prices of electricity, gas and POL before approaching the IMF, expressing fears that prices of these items would be raised further after IMF fresh loan since it would cause a flood of price hike. As a result of the agreement, the value of the rupee would go down further and dollar rate would go up, he said.

He said for the first time, the prime minister had to appear before the IMF Managing Director which was unbecoming of the head of any government. He said the rulers were overjoyed on the successful dialogue for IMF loan which only the poor masses would have to pay back. He said unless and until, the rulers decided to give up the loan based economy and returned to the policy of self-reliance, the economy of the country could not improve. He said the government was extending tax concessions to its chosen wealthy quarters while the common people were being further burdened through indirect taxes.

Muslim unity: The visiting chairman of the Iranian educational institutions, Ayatullah Ali Raza Arafi, called on Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Senator Sirajul Haq at Mansoora here on Monday and discussed with him the situation prevailing in the Muslim world with particular reference to Pak-Iran relations, and avenues of cooperation in education sector.

The newly-appointed Iranian Consul General in Lahore, Muhammad Raza Nazari, and principal of Jamia Al-Muntazir, Allama Niaz Naqvi, were also accompanying the visiting dignitary.

Speaking on the occasion, Senator Sirajul Haq said Muslim unity and unanimity of Muslim Ummah on all major issues was the only way to counter enemy conspiracies against the security and survival of the Ummah. He said that the enemy wanted to destroy the Muslims by dividing them through different biases and prejudices. However, he said, the Holy Quran repeatedly warned the believers that internal difference would weaken the Muslims and finally annihilate them. Sirajul Haq said oppression, injustice and bloodletting was being spread in the Muslim world to carry out the enemy conspiracies and it was the duty of the Ulema and leaders to warn the believers against enemy designs, support the oppressed in every situation and unite the Ummah on common grounds. Ayatullah Ali Raza Aarafi explained different academic and research projects being carried out in Iran and underlined the need for mutual cooperation and tolerance among Muslim countries.