Civilian goes on hunger strike against corruption

Islamabad-based businessman Raja Jahangir Akhtar, 68, has decided to go on an Anna Hazare style hunger strike in Pakistan against corruption from 12th September.
Addressing a news conference at National Press Club, Jahangir said he would observe the hunger strike from Sunday in front of Super Market to press the government to introduce a bill in the parliament against corruption and to cut the army budget. He said his protest was aimed at wiping out corruption from the country. Akhtar said he would be the Anna Hazare of Pakistan, but made it clear that he announced his protest before Anna.
“I postponed my protest due to Ramadan, I have been struggling for the past 48 years to express my views on the economic situation of Pakistan” he said. He added that for his candid views on the country’s economy, he had been put behind bars many times, and once a military court had sentenced him to a year’s imprisonment and 10 flags (flagellations?) as punishment.
“I have invited all the political parties and the common public to join my protest because it is the only way to get rid of increasing corruption” said Jahangir. He said he would drink water during his strike because he was a kidney patient. He expressed hope that his strike would draw attention from the media, the common public, members of parliament, and all stakeholders in the issue of an anti-corruption bill being introduced in the National Assembly, and funds being directed away from the military budget and towards tackling issues that affected the population, like the nation’s derelict power sector.
Jahangir said the country’s economic situation had been deteriorating with each passing day, and it was also facing some of its biggest challenges yet in the form of terrorism, inflation and political instability.
“I want to provide courage to the common man to raise voice against corruption which is considered the root cause of all of these issues” he added.
He said neither the ruling nor the opposition party had a practical solution to resolve the current economic crisis. “Therefore, I humbly suggest that we salvage our economy by cutting the size of our army, which is not required in its present strength as we face no external threat” he said.
He dispelled impressions that a political party was backing him, saying that any social workers and parties that wanted to bring about a revolution in the country would join his protest.