JI holds rallies against price hike

LAHORE:Rallies and protest demonstrations were held across the country Friday by Jamaat-e-Islami workers and supporters against massive hike in prices of essential items, unemployment and fast growing corruption and bad governance of the PTI government in the country.

Thousands of protesters flocked the streets in major cities, holding holding banner and placards inscribed with slogans demanding immediate decrease in the prices of sugar, flour and other basic commodities that forced the poor masses to commit mass suicides. The call for protests was made by JI ameer Senator Sirajul Haq in connection with the JI campaign against the price hike, inflation and corruption in the country. Addressing the protestors, JI leaders warned the rulers to control the inflation or get ready to go home. He said the flawed economic policies of the PTI government made it impossible for the masses to meet both ends.

In Lahore, JI Secretary General Ameerul Azim led the protest demonstrations at Multan Road in front of JI headquarters Mansoora. Addressing the participants he said the PTI regime sucked the blood of the masses to feed the IMF, retreating all the promises and claims it made with the people to provide relief to the masses and bring reform in every sector. He said the ruling elite never bothered to address the problems of a common man and their only agenda was to enjoy power and make money throw illegal means. He said the flour disappeared from the market and sugar prices touched skies despite the fact that country was one of the biggest producers of both the commodities in the world. He said the PTI deceived the people in the name of change, leaving the masses in a desperate situation in only 16 months of its rule. Besides increasing prices of food items, gas, electricity and petrol, he said, the government also made a multiple raise in the Hajj cost which was mockery to the slogan to turn the country into a Madina-like-state. The step, he said, was tantamount to depriving people from going to Madina. He said the rulers must understand the fact that country’s economy could not be fixed by blindly following the IMF agenda. He said people needed to take a stand against the corrupt system. JI Lahore ameer Dr Zikrullah Mujahid, JI leader Hafiz Idrees and others also addressed the rally and condemned the government policies. They said few rich families were ruling over the country for years and they have nothing to do with the problems of masses.