JI suspends political activities over Covid-19

LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami has suspended its ongoing campaign against price hike and unemployment, and all other political activities because of coronavirus outbreak in the country, and instead focused its attention towards relief activities for the prevention of the disease outbreak.

This was announced by JI Ameer Senator Sirajul Haq while addressing a press conference at Mansoora on Wednesday. He offered all medical facilities running under the banner of the Jamaat-e-Islami in different cities for the facilitation of the virus-infected patients, and also announced full support to the government efforts to cope with the crisis.

“Hospital, dispensaries, ambulance services and medical staff of Al-Khidmat Foundation are available free-of-cost for the service of the nation in this testing time.

We will fully cooperate with the government if it needs the facilities for any purpose,” he said, adding the Jamaat-e-Islami workers were standing with the government to mitigate the threat.

He also established a medical board to create awareness among the masses about COVID-19. He said the JI delegations would hold meetings with the leaders from different political parties and personalities from different social sectors to persuade them to play their role in creating awareness and removing panic among the masses.

Similarly, JI Ameer Senator Sirajul Haq said, a campaign will be launched against hoarders and those who were selling essential daily routine items at high prices instead of providing relief to the masses in the prevailing situation.

Senator Siraj was of the view that closing down mosques due to the fear of coronavirus was not a good idea, rather a cleanliness campaign for mosques should be started across the country.

JI Ameer Senator Sirajul Haq said people should bow before Allah Almighty and seek His forgiveness to get rid of the pandemic. Sirajul Haq demanded the government announce relief package for the labourers and other low income class people who lost every earning facility and were sitting idle in their homes.

JI Ameer Senator Sirajul Haq said the government should waive off the electricity and gas bills to the people earning less than Rs25,000 per month. He termed the prime minister’s address to the nation disappointing, saying the prime minister tried to create panic among the masses instead of spreading hope and courage among them.

Meanwhile, JI Secretary General Amirul Azeem said the Jamaat-e-Islami would resist any effort of the government to put ban on the media freedom. Talking to party workers on Wednesday, he said the government was trying to push a media group to the wall and if it was not stopped here, the situation would become further ugly in the coming days.

The rulers’ desire to control the media will never be acceptable, he said, adding the JI backed across the board anti-corruption movement but it would never support political victimisation in the name of accountability. He termed the government steps to ban media freedom an effort to hide its own incapability.Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Senator Sirajul Haq said the Jamaat-e-Islami was standing with the media and journalist community in their movements for free press.