JI welcomes SC decision on judicial commission : Siraj ul Haq

Lahore : Ameer, Jamaat e Islami, Pakistan, Senator Sirajul Haq has welcomed the Supreme Court decision to set up a Judicial Commission for Panama leaks enquiry under its own supervision. He was talking to the media outside the Supreme Court building after the court hearing on his petition on the issue.

Siraj ul Haq said that Ehtisab was not the demand of the JI alone, it was the demand of  the entire nation which wanted strict accountability of the corrupt including the rulers. He said the nation wanted accountability to begin from the present rulers after which Zardari and Pervez Musharraf could also be brought for Ehtisab. On the other hand, he said, the rulers wanted the process to begin from 1947 so that their turn never came. “Perhaps the Prime Minister wants the accountability of the Quaid e Azam also”, he remarked.

The JI chief said that the government had already delayed the matter for seven months. It had not moved any Bill against corruption during this time and was still seeking more time from the court which clearly indicated that the rulers wanted to escape accountability.

On the other hand, he said, ”we want the Supreme Court not only to investigate the matter, but also punish the plunderers after their corruption was proved, their assets be confiscated and their passports be taken into official custody so that they could not flee the country.

Sirajul Haq said that the move against corruption had been started in 1996 by late Qazi Hussain Ahmed, former Ameer of the JI, and it was still continuing. He said time was not far off when the corrupt rulers and plunderers would be thrown out of politics for good and all the wealth they had amassed unlawfully would be recovered from them.

He said that the JI wanted the supremacy of the judiciary and the rule of the law. The JI also desired that all important issues were decided by the judiciary so that the masses did not  have to come on roads.

Sirajul Haq said that the government had been confined to the Islamabad due to its blunders. He further said “We don’t like the politics of Double Shah”.

Sirajul Haq however said that political activities could not be suspended for setting up  the judicial commission. Public meetings and processions were the right of the masses which could not be taken away, he added.

He said that the government had resorted to state oppression by stopping Khyber P. Chief Minister Pervez Khattak’s caravan from entering Islamabad and tear gassing of his companions could not be adequately condemned. He demanded immediate opening of the Motorway.

JI deputy chief Hafiz Muhammad Idrees, while appreciating the Supreme Court decision on the petitions against corruption, said that the decision was in line with the sentiments of the masses and in the best national interest. He said the apex court decision had not harmed any state institution nor created any political crisis.