Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Secretary General Liaqat Baloch said on Thursday that the armed forces had shown a mirror to the government and instead of taking it ill, the government should concentrate on improving its performance.
Talking to media personnel after addressing the prize distribution ceremony of the Jamia Talab Arabia at Hamdard Centre on Thursday, Baloch said that the armed forces which were sacrificing their lives in order to wipe out terrorism could not be denied the right to remind the civil authorities about their responsibility on this score.
The JI secretary general said that the government had made zero progress even after three years in power. It had miserably failed to fulfill its promises made to the masses during the election campaign. He said that the secular forces sitting in the lap of the government were trying hard to destroy the Islamic character of the country.
JI voted for PML-N’s Ayaz Sadiq in last week’s election for the National Assembly Speaker. The party, however, supported Sadiq’s opponent Aleem Khan in NA-122 by polls.
Baloch said that the Corps Commander’s expression of concern over the government’s performance did not mean that the things were moving towards martial law. However, he said, that ground realities could not be denied.
He said that it was the government responsibility to implement the National Action Plan (NAP) worked out by the national leadership and to remove the hurdles in its way and unless and until the government improved its working, it would have to face criticism. However, he said, the government had proved to be incapable of serving the masses honestly.
The JI central leader, however, added that the solution of the people’s problems was with the masses and not the armed forces. He said that if the masses continued to elect corrupt and dishonest people, they would have to face the consequences as well.
Baloch underlined the need for national unity and said that the Ulema and scholars from all schools of thought and sects must sit together to decide a line of action for rising above petty differences and uniting on a one-point agenda of common objectives.
The JI secretary general distributed medals and awards among the winners of top positions from all five boards of the Wifaqul Madaris.
Accused convicted in terror financing
LAHORE
STAFF REPORT
Anti-terrorism Court Bahawalpur on Thursday awarded punishment of imprisonment for eight years and a fine of Rs. 2 lac to accused Yameen in its decision in case FIR No. 45/15 u/s 11-N of ATA 1997, PS CTD Multan.
Yameen was convicted of collecting funds for a banned outfit.
A spokesman of Counter Terrorism Department told media personnel that the strong prosecution proved dedication of the Punjab government to stop terror financing to proscribed organizations and to crack down hard on militancy.
