Govt should free economy from influence of IMF & nationalize the State Bank of Pakistan: Sirajul Haq

LAHORE, April 21 (SABAH): Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Sirajul Haq has said the government should free economy from the influence of the International Monitory Fund (IMF) and nationalize the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

In a statement issued from Mansoorah on Thursday, Sirajul Haq also called for taking measures to end interest-based economy, saying the capitalism was a trap to enslave the poor masses and surrender the country’s autonomy to international powers and lending agencies.

He appealed to the Supreme Court of Pakistan to start hearing on the JI petition on Panama Papers and Pandora Leaks and investigate all the people whose names were exposed in the corruption scandals. The apex court, he said, should also ban the corrupt people from taking part in the elections.

The PTI, Sirajul Haq said, failed to bring back the looted money from abroad despite promises during its three and half years’ rule, asking the Shehbaz Sharif government to take action against those who stashed their billions of rupees in foreign banksthrough tax evasions and corrupt practices.

He said the electoral reforms and fresh elections were the only way forward to end the prevailing crisis. The prime minister, he said, instead of focusing on new projects should take measure to hold free and fair polls as soon as possible. He said the PML-N, the PPP and the PTI have ruled over country for years with different slogans but they failed to bring any change. The ruling elite, he said, kept the people in darkness and only protected its self-interests.

The rulers, Sirajul Haq said, showed no sincerity and seriousness to resolve the problems of the masses and strengthen economy and institutions. The people of Pakistan, he said, should beware of the false promises and claims of the tested parties and vote for those whose hands were clean. He said only JI was the option left with the masses now after testing the three ruling parties for years. If voted to power, he said, the JI would transform Pakistan into real Islamic welfare state.