Former govt manipulated the NAB law to serve their personal interests: Sirajul Haq

FAISALABAD, Sep 15 (SABAH): Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Sirajul Haq has asserted that the former government manipulated the NAB law to serve their personal interests, highlighting the pressing need for comprehensive accountability.

Speaking at a public rally held on Friday, Sirajul Haq lamented that in Pakistan, the parliament often enacts laws to shield the powerful, and the courts make decisions based on individuals’ social status. Sirajul Haq expressed hope that the incoming Chief Justice would ensure impartial justice, eliminating impact regarding the judges’ political affiliations.

He asserted the importance of implementing a fair accountability process for those who waived of billions in loans, ultimately leading to the country’s economic downfall. Citing data presented in the Senate, Sirajul Haq said that over 988 major companies and influential figures had their loans, totaling 4.8 trillion rupees, forgiven.

Sirajul Haq called for the government to eliminate the additional taxes included in electricity bills and scrutinize costly contracts with Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

The JI leader emphasized that the caretaker government’s primary duty should be to ensure transparent elections and facilitate the peaceful transfer of power to elected representatives following clean and transparent elections. Regrettably, he observed that the caretakers appeared to be involved in every matter except elections, emphasizing that empowering the people to make decisions is the cornerstone of strengthening democracy.

He criticized the former governments of PPP and PML-N for holding a Council of Common Interests (CCI) meeting in the eleventh hour of their tenure, approving the census, which provided an excuse for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to delay the elections. Contrary to this, Jamaat-e-Islami believes that elections should adhere to the constitutional timeframe of 90 days following the dissolution of assemblies, he said.

Sirajul Haq reiterated that the party is dedicated to the principles of democracy, constitutional governance, and the rule of law. He underlined that people in the country are grappling with inflation, unemployment, and poverty due to flawed policies adopted by previous governments of the PDM, PPP, and PTI. The caretakers, he said, gave continuation to the former policies instead of providing relief to the masses.

Sirajul Haq pledged to work towards freeing the country from its loans once Jamaat-e-Islami assumes power. Encouraging the electorate to place their trust in a fresh alternative, he urged them to consider Jamaat-e-Islami in the upcoming elections.

Prior to his speech, Sirajul Haq also met with leaders from the business community and expressed gratitude for their support during the September 2 shutter-down strike.