In a candid address at an event in Lahore, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq expressed his concerns over the recent actions of the caretaker government. He pointed out that while the government had reduced the prices of petroleum products, it had simultaneously increased the gas rates by a substantial 20 percent.
Addressing the audience, Sirajul Haq highlighted the prevailing situation in the country and the reluctance of authorities to take responsibility for it. He remarked, “From the president and prime minister to the police, everyone is admitting that the situation is terrible, but no one is accepting the responsibility for it.”
The JI chief’s remarks were in response to the interim government’s decision to reduce the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HDS) by Rs8 and Rs11 per liter, respectively. However, on the same day, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) issued a notice of a Rs21 per kg increase in the rate of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for the month of October.
According to OGRA, starting from Sunday, the cost of a domestic LPG cylinder would be Rs3,080, up from its previous price of Rs2,833. Similarly, the price of a commercial LPG cylinder was raised from Rs10,902 to Rs11,849.
Sirajul Haq also drew attention to the comparative strength of Afghanistan’s currency, which is nearly three times stronger than that of Pakistan. He questioned the state of Pakistan’s economy and security situation, pointing out that neighboring countries such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and India had made significant progress.
The JI chief contended that Pakistan’s current challenges, including corruption, inflation, and unemployment, were a consequence of the incompetence of previous leaders from both the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
Sirajul Haq attributed the economic struggles of Pakistan to its historical reliance on external aid, particularly from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He stressed that only his party, Jamaat-e-Islami, had the vision and strategy to break free from this dependency, primarily through the implementation of the Zakat and Usher systems.
He further emphasized the need for repentance and a departure from usury, believing that such actions would invite divine assistance and blessings for the nation. Sirajul Haq called on the people to support Jamaat-e-Islami, asserting that the party offered the only viable path towards establishing the Almighty’s religion in Pakistan, ushering in prosperity and abundance.