LAHORE - Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq yesterday justified ISPR’s “governance” statement.
Addressing a press conference at JI head office Mansora, he said the law and order situation was not appreciable in the country and it must be improved.
“The ISPR statement should not be taken as interfere in politics. The masses should not be made to become sandwich between two Sharifs (PM Nawaz Sharif and COAS Raheel Sharif),” he said when questioned about his party’s point of view over army’s advice to government.
“There is killing and massacre everywhere. Government and military establishment jointly work for establishment of peace and order in the country,” he said. Tuesday’s Inter Services Public Relations statement, which stressed for the need for matching/complimentary governance initiatives for long term gains of operation and enduring peace across the country, caused a heated debate among politicians.
The PPP criticized the statement and termed it interference of army in politics while PTI lawmakers asked government to take lesson from it.
At the start of his briefing Siraj expressed grief over killing of innocent people in terrorists attack in Paris. “Every kind of terrorism in the world must be eliminated. Terrorism should not be linked with Muslims and Islam without facts,” JI chief maintained.
He said those who were controlling the world economy and have multi-billion businesses of arm dealing were behind the attacks as they wanted war instead of peace in the world.
On the occasion he also stressed the need for promoting peace in Afghanistan. He said Pakistan should facilitate talks between Afghan government and Taliban. He said Afghan neighbour countries especially China’s help should also be sought for establishment peace in war torn country.
Siraj welcomed Barahamdagh Bugti’s willingness for peace-talks in Balochistan. He said it was high time the resources of Balochistan should be spent for welfare of the people of province.
“Balochistan CM should be given more power. Angry Baloch are our own brothers. The government should immediately invite Baloch leader for peace talks.”
“People of Fata are also deprived of their rights. We need to amend NFC (National Finance Commission) and fix a part of it for development of the tribal region which has a population of 10 million. There must be reform as only military operation is not the solution of Fata issues,” he said.
He criticized government for its “wrong economic policies and burdening poor with debt.” He said the government should reduce non-development expenditures and control corruption rather than seek billions from World Bank and IMF.
“I don’t feel any differences between the present and past rulers. Both living like kings and did nothing for the poor,” he said.