Secretary General of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Liaquat Baloch, said here on Saturday that the country's powerful establishment's intervention into the political affairs of the city was responsible for its economic and social woes. Speaking at a news conference held here at Idarae Noor-e-Haq, the JI leader said: "Karachiites will be able to solve their problems provided establishment and state institutions let them elect their leadership in an independent, impartial and fair manner."
On this occasion, he announced that the next public meeting of Jamaat-i-Islami to be held on December 25 at Mazar-e-Qauid will be addressed by JI chief Sirajul Haq and it will be shown live in Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and other cities of the country. He said the JI has been struggling to get the people of Karachi freed from `oppression' for ensuring their economic and democratic independence.
"The JI after holding its historic public rally in Lahore will now organise a similar gathering in Karachi to pave way for a prosperous and stable Pakistan," he said, adding that his party will soon start a public-contact campaign. "People are fed up with the existing political system and they want change in the system by getting rid of dynastic politics," he added.
People of Karachi, Balochistan and FATA wanted to get rid of present political turmoil for the restoration of their basic rights, he said, adding that "the JI want to see the Islamic norms and essence of two-nation theory in the country". The JI leader opined that people of Karachi have been made hostage under a planned conspiracy so that they remain deprived of their rights of electing their leaders in elections. He urged the prime minister to play his role in bringing an end to the political deadlock with PTI, saying "the JI believes that negotiations will help resolve all problems."