JI demands reasonable increase in wages, pensions

Lahore: The central Shoora of the Jamaat e Islami, has called for a reasonable increase in the minimum wages for workers in the next year budget besides ensuring its implementation and fixing minimum pensions at Rs. 10,000.

A resolution unanimously adopted at the JI Shoora meeting termed the 1 to 22 Pay Scales for government employees as unjust and tyrannical and demanded that these be cut . The Shoora called for immediate and comprehensive legislation for the application of IRA 2012 to the labourers working in markets, farms, kilns, construction, pulling carts,etc, and others who had been deprived of the benefit of the law due to the contract system.

It noted that the old age pensions under the OEBI had not been raised in the recent years and be raised reasonably.

The JI central body said that the privatization of major state institutions such as PIA, WAPDA under the IMF and World Bank pressure was a dangerous game which on one hand, was a threat to the country’s solidarity, and on the other hand, led towards dependence on others minimizing the chance of self reliance. As such, this was something unconstitutional.

The Shoora demanded the cancellation of the WAPDA’s restructuring by setting up different distribution companies, and the proposed privatization of the OGDC, PIA,Pakistan Steel, and some educational institutions in the Punjab. It demanded that the working of these institutions be improved through better management.

The Shoora stressed that solid steps be taken to wipe out corruption in the national institutions and the corrupt elements be punished heavily.It further demanded that residences in government housing colonies allotted to the government servants be transferred in the names of their sons on the retirement of the allottees under the Parents scheme.

Through another resolution, the Shoora demanded that in order to improve the lot of the growers, the 17 per cent GST be withdrawn, It demanded that the procurement price of the crop be fixed at the time of harvest and in consultation with growers representatives, and purchase of the entire crop on fixed rate be ensured.

The Shoora demanded that interest free loans be given to the small farmers to help them stand on their own feet and all state land tenants and landless tillers be given ownership rights.

The Shoora noted that the growers in the Punjab and other provinces had not benefitted from the government’s Kisan Package due to technical reasons. It said that the gunny bags had become a cause of corruption in Sindh and these were in the control of the influential people and the ruling party assembly members while the common growers had been deprived of these. As a result, the growers were forced to sell their wheat at Rs. 800 instead of the official rate of Rs. 1300.

Meanwhile; The Jamaat e Islami, is staging countrywide protest against corruption on May Day on the appeal of the Ameer, JI, Pakistan, Senator Sirajul Haq.

Rallies pressing for judicial probe into the Panama leaks will be staged in the federal and all province capitals. A big women rally would be staged in the Punjab capital.

Protest demonstrations would be held in all the five districts of Karachi. The central and provincial JI leadership would address the rallies.

JI Secretary General Liaqat Baloch will lead the rally in the Punjab capital. JI Punjab chief Mian Maqsood Ahmed will lead the rally at Sheikhupura and Mandi Bahaud Din. JI chief, Khyber P, Mushtaq Ahmed Kahn, will lead the rally in Dir. JI Sindh chief Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui, will lead the rallies at Hyderabad, and Mirpur Khas. JI Balochistan chief Maulaan Abdul Haq Baloch, will lead the rallies in Quetta.