Summary JI head says diplomacy on cricket, bus and potato/tomato fronts has failed between India, Pakistan
PESHAWAR: (Dunya News) – Jamaat Islami (JI) head Sirajul Haq has on Saturday said that he is unable to understand why the government is imposing new taxes in the name of Operation Zarb-e-Azb. He said that all forms of diplomacies have failed with India including that of cricket, bus, potato and tomato, reported Dunya News.
JI leader visited a welfare organization funded by business community in Peshawar. Talking to media on this occasion, Siraj said that all forms of diplomacies have failed with India because the real bone of contention between the two countries is Kashmir, where demonstrations are being held these days in Pakistan’s favour.
Sirajul Haq said that the subsequent governments in Pakistan have desired good ties with India but the real problem is the Kashmir dispute.
Criticizing the federal government over the imposition of new taxes, Sirajul Haq said that he was unable to comprehend why the government was imposing a new tax in the name of the victims of Operation Zarb-e-Azb. “Instead of imposing new taxes, government should cut down its non-development budget and the expenses on foreign visits”, said Haq.
JI head said that the local body system in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KP) is much better than the ones in Punjab and Sindh. He said that the local body representatives are given powers, as well as funds, in KP.
Also read: Increased duty on imported luxury items was required for war on terror resources
Dar said that the government had to take few bitter steps in order to save country’s economy. However, he said that international organizations are also taking note of Pakistan’s better economical status.
He said that foreign organizations were hinting in 2013 that Pakistan would go bankrupt within few months. We took it as a challenge and took necessary steps to improve the economy, he added. Talking about Pakistan’s war on terror, Dar said that military and civil leadership is on the same page.
The country has spent at least Rs 45 billion in Operation Zarb-e-Azb, he added. Dar said that duty tax was increased two days before only on import of luxury items. The change would not affect a commoner, he added.
The minister said that the imposition of hiked duty was necessary to continue war on terror and equal distribution among provinces.
Dar said that the government took loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the first two years so that it could shed the debt accumulated during tenures of previous governments.
While talking about the attack on Military Police (MP) in Karachi, Dar said that the leadership was prepared for reaction of operations against terrorism.
A large-scale operation called Zarb-e-Azb was launched in July 2014 to hunt militants hiding in tribal areas of Pakistan. The operation has garnered humungous success and has destroyed countless terrorist hideouts. Most of the areas in North Waziristan have been cleared while the operation is set to conclude in 2016.
In September this year, a report was presented in the National Assembly (NA) that stated more than 3,500 terrorists have been killed and over 300 army officials have embraced martyrdom during the ongoing operation.
Standing committee on defense was briefed that security forces have taken control of Shawal mountains while ground troops and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) jets will keep targeting terrorist hideouts till clearance of entire area.
