Tiny ruling elite is responsible for the present socio-economic ills: Liaqat Baloch

Lahore: Secretary General, Jamaat e Islami, Liaqat Baloch, has said that if the next budget failed to provide relief to the masses, it would advance the IMF and World Bank anti people agenda.

Addressing a reception hosted by JI worker Shahid Naveed Malik in the city, he said that the tiny ruling elite controlling the national resources was responsible for the present socio-economic ills. Due to corruption, nepotism and bad governance of the government, inflation, price hike, and street crime were on the increase. In such a situation, he said, the honest and competent leadership of the JI alone could pull the country out of the crisis. He counseled the government not to further raise the POL prices further.

The JI Secretary General said that the volley of allegations from Afghanistan and border provocations on Indian side following BJP’s victory in India and possible electoral win of Abdullah Abdullah in Afghanistan were alarming signs. He said that India’s policy towards Pakistan would always be hostile no matter which party won the elections. Therefore, it was time that Islamabad fixed its own  priorities, tried to end internal differences and united the nation against enemy designs.

Liaqat Baloch said that election system in the country needed major reforms and the Election Commission must be made fully autonomous. He said the parliament and the assemblies were fast losing public support. However, he said, the JI desired the assemblies to complete their term so that the corrupt and incompetent people could be exposed and the masses learnt to exercise their right to vote with care and caution.

Addressing the reception, Dr Farid Ahmed Piracha urged the TV channels to frame their policies in line with the Pakistan ideology and promote Islamic values and culture.