LAHORE – Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Syed Munawar Hasan has said that the so called opposition could conveniently join hands with the government to safeguard its interests, but it did not speak out against the raise in the POL, gas and electricity prices that had crushed the common man.
In a statement on Saturday, he appealed to the masses to join the JI’s countrywide protest against the price hike on Sunday.
Syed Munawar Hasan said that all the parties in the parliament had approved the 20th constitutional amendment overnight to protect the seats of 28 members but no one had protested over the price bomb for the masses.
He said that the payment of a huge sum of Rs 360 million to the Senators prior to the elections was a shameful act and a joke with democracy, and the people did not expect this of their elected representatives.
Munawar Hasan added that the government was meeting the agenda of the IMF and the World Bank in raising the prices of POL, gas and electricity every week and the rulers as well as opposition were protecting US interests. He said the raise in POL and electricity tariff had a wide ranging effect causing increase in transportation cost and fares thus leading to a flood of price hike that would affected 180 million people of the country.
JI to protest price hike today:  The Jamaat-e-Islami is holding protest rallies and meetings all over the country on today, against the oppressive raise in POL, gas and electricity tariff.
People from different walks of life including workers, students and youth would take part in the rallies at provincial, divisional and district headquarters to condemn the cruel raise in prices.
JI Secretary General Liaqat Baloch, in a statement on Saturday, said the PPP had not implemented its economic program of Roti, Kapra, Makan during the last four years. Instead of providing any relief to the masses, the PPP led government had raised POL, gas and electricity tariff by eight times. The burden of loans on the country had almost doubled while corruption has also increased manifold. The entire responsibility for this situation rested with the PPP and its allies while the so called opposition was equally responsible for this poor state of affairs.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Shia leaders including Pir Nau Bahar Shah and Nawab Sarfraz Sial, called on Liaqat Baloch at his residence. At the meeting, the JI leader condemned the brutal killing of Shia pilgrims in Kohistan a few days back and termed it a conspiracy to fan sectarian hatred and to damage Pak-Iran relations. The two sides agreed that the JI should play its role in promoting sectarian harmony.