Govt left hundreds & thousands of people helpless in worst hour of trial: Sirajul Haq

MUZAFFARGARH, August 23 (SABAH): Emir Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Sirajul Haq, has said that the government has left hundreds and thousands of people helpless in worst hour of trial. He censured that in their fight for power, ruling political parties were rubbing salt on the wounds of the flood victims. He added that despite predictions from the Meteorology Department, federal and provincial governments took measures neither for shifting the victims nor protecting their valuables.

Sirajul Haq expressed these views during his conversation with flood affected people of Dera Ghazi Khan, Tounsa and Rajanpur and also while addressing a protest gathering in Mazaffargarh against suppressive taxis in electricity bills.

While describing the predicament of the affected areas, Sirajul Haq highlighted that the veiled women had to come on the roads; the people had gone deprived of food and shelters, their cattle starving owing to lack fodder. “I have been in Southern Punjab for 3 days witnessing thousands of families forced to live under the open sky along with their children, sisters and daughters”, he explained. Sirajul Haq added that mosques and graveyards had been swept away by the water. He asked the rulers as to why the flood victims were not given a helping hand despite the fact that they were Pakistani citizens who paid taxes and above all they were not begging rather claiming their rights. He demanded that the government should take steps to repair their loss including reduction in power tariff and elimination of taxis as monthly utility bills had gone nothing less severe than a catastrophe. Sirajul Haq underlined that it was Jamaat-e-Islami which first raised voice for inflated bills and warned of challenging taxis in courts and besieging power distribution companies. He also showed resolve for raising voice for people’s rights in every street and square. He added that JI was even exposing anti-masses policies of rulers in the Senate and the National Assembly and stood determined not to compromise on people’s rights.

Sirjaul Haq issued directions to volunteers of Jamaat-e-Islami and Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan to actively participate in the rehabilitation work for the flood affectees. Sirajul Haq also appealed the philanthropists of whole country to generously help for the rehabilitation of the affectees.  

Emir Jamaat e Islmai South Punjab Rao Zaffar Iqbal and Emir JI District Rana Umar Daraz Farooqi were also present on the occasion. Later, he also visited family of former secretary general JI of the district Dr. Aurangzeb Shahzad and expressed grievances on his death and prayed for elevation of ranks in paradise. After completing 3-day visit, Sirajul Haq left the flood affected area of South Punjab for Sukkar where he would visit several districts of Sindh and show solidarity with the affectees.