JI workers protest against inflation, unemployment

LAHORE: Thousands of Jamaat-e-Islami workers Sunday staged countrywide protest day against inflation and unemployment, shouting slogans against the PTI government and demanding it to either improve economic policies for providing relief to the masses or step down.

Staging demonstrations on the appeal of JI Ameer Sirajul Haq, the protests were held all over the country at provincial, divisional, district and zonal headquarters. In Lahore, the protest was held on Multan Road outside the JI headquarters Mansoora, where JI Secretary General Ameerul Azeem, Lahore Ameer Zikrullah Mujahid and others addressed the protesters.

Ameerul Azeem lamented the government practice of continuous mini-budgets round the year, saying annual budget is presented once a year all over the world but Pakistan is the only unfortunate country where people are subjected to frequent price hikes and inflation. “Not a day goes by without the government raising prices of basic needs,” he said, adding that country’s budgets are made by the IMF and World Bank. He said on one hand the rulers say that country’s foreign exchange reserves and exports have increased but on the other inflation and unemployment was on the rise. The nation is facing more misery than ever before instead of prosperity. In the current budget, he said, the tariffs of private power companies have been increased for the benefit of the capitalists and billions of rupees have been snatched from the pockets of the people by increasing the prices of electricity, gas, petrol, flour, medicines and other necessities. He said, “I ask where is the NAB? Who will put the billionaires to task, minting billions of rupees out of masses pockets? He asked. “Has any accused been convicted for illegal profits and plundering public money?

Azeem said Prime Minister Imran Khan announced a package of Rs1100 billion for Karachi’s development last year but it was not implemented. “In effect, privatisation of PIA, Steel Mills and other national institutions has been announced, laying off thousands of employees. He said the PML-N and the PPP protested only for their own interest and not for the benefit of the people.

Zikrullah Mujahid termed the present budget cruel and anti-poor, saying it was quickly followed by many mini-budgets on the dictates of IMF raising petrol and electricity prices. Party’s Secretary Information Qaiser Sharif, Gen Secretary Lahore Eng Akhlaq, Mahmood Al-Ahad, Zia-ud-Din Ansari, president JI Youth Lahore Abdullah Ijaz and Abdul Aziz Abid also spoke.

JI Naib Ameer Liaquat Baloch addressed in Multan, Asadullah Bhutto addressed in Hyderabad, JI Sindh Ameer Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui in Sukkur, JI Balochistan Ameer Maulana Abdul Haq Hashmi in Pishin and Hidayat-ur-Rehman in Quetta, Dr Tariq Saleem in Mandi Bahauddin, JI Karachi Ameer Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman in Karachi and Rai Muhammad Zafar in Multan, Bilal Qudrat Butt and Sardar Zafar Hussain led rallies in Gujranwala and Faisalabad respectively.