Development of tribal areas essential for the country’s prosperity : Senator Siraj ul Haq

Lahore: Ameer, Jamaat e Islami, Pakistan, Senator Sirajul Haq, has said that the road to peace and prosperity of Pakistan passes through the tribal areas.

Addressing a big tribal gathering at Jamrood on Sunday, he said that unless and until special attention was given to the uplift of the tribal areas and the solution of the tribal people, the country could not progress.

Sirajul Haq said that the people of the tribal areas were as much patriotic as those in the federal capital. Unfortunately, he said, the rulers in Islamabad had not taken any interest in the development of the tribal areas.  On the other hand, the tribal people were labeled as terrorists under the propaganda of the aliens and the anti state elements and the tribal areas were taken as abode of the terrorists. He said it was time that this attitude was changed.

He said that the JI had requested the federal government for Rs. 100 million as special grant for the tribal areas but the government had approved only Rs. 18 million which was totally inadequate and a great injustice to the tribal people. He said that the tribal people should be provided the basic facilities at par with the people in other areas. Sirajul Haq also called for special emphasis on education and job opportunities for the tribal people.

The JI chief said that around six lakh IDPs had crossed over to Afghanistan last year of which a small number of families had come back and a big majority was still staying in the Afghanistan. He urged the government to motivate these people to return home with respect.

Sirajul Haq said that in the local bodies polls in Khyber P. the Jamaat e Islami had emerged as one of the major parties of the province. He expressed the hope that this would go a long way in the progress and development of the province.

Sirajul Haq said that serious irregularities had been noticed in the local bodies elections in Khyber P and it was the duty of the Election Commission to attend to the issue.

On the occasion a well known social figure of the area, Haji Sayed Khan, and his brothers handed over the keys of three ambulances to the JI chief for the use of the Al-Khidmat Foundation.

JI FATA chief  Sahibzada Haroonur Rashid, and deputy chief, JI FATA Zarnoor Afridi, also spoke on the occasion.

Meanwhile; Ameer, Jamaat e Islami, Pakistan, Senator Sirajul Haq, has strongly condemned the raise in the POL prices and said the government’s assurances for providing relief to the masses had remained high and dry.

In his reaction on the issue, Sirajul Haq said that the raise in the POL before the holy month of Ramadhan would cause a wave of price spiral adding to the miseries of the masses, and the government would not be able to check that. He demanded the withdrawal of the price increase.

The JI chief said there had been no raise in the POL prices in the world market, therefore, this  price increase was unjustified. He said it was common in our country that the rulers came to power on  promises to providing relief to the masses but these promises were never  fulfilled.