LAHORE, Apr 28: Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Syed Munawar Hasan has despite that new rulers are attributing all present day crises including load shedding, Atta shortage and price hike to the previous regime, yet they are still continuing the same old policies of the previous rulers and has taken no practical measures to stop hoarding and smuggling of wheat.

In a statement on Monday, Munawar said the mafia of wheat hoarding and smuggling is fully active despite that the wheat crop has not yet been harvested and stored in the godowns. He cited reports saying that smugglers and hoarders from across borders were purchasing standing wheat crops on high prices, and shifting huge quantities of wheat to private godowns. He also cited reports that Pakistani flour bags were being sold in Afghanistan and central Asian republics.

Munawar wondered why a government which is importing millions of tones of wheat to fulfill its domestic requirements has not made any proper planning to prevent wheat smuggling out of the country.

Munawar expressed sorrow that rulers are continuing the policies of Gen Musharraf to seek his pleasure instead of impeaching him to fulfill the public mandate. He said the same rulers have kept the masses in painful wait by unnecessarily delaying the restoration of chief justice and other judges of the supreme court.

Munawar said the ruling alliance has yet to come out with a proper planning and strategy to rid the people of pressing problems including the load shedding, Atta scarcity and price hike. He said tough punishments must be awarded to the hoarders and smugglers of wheat and Atta, whereas agreements for more power plants should be made in the country on emergency basis besides giving attention to build more dams and exploring vast resources of oil and gas.

He said lawlessness is prevalent in the society and whole families are being gunned down as criminals have no fear for the law and justice.

Munawar Hasan said in order to ensure the rule of law in the society, restoration of judges and independent judiciary must not be delayed for any further moment, and to conduct strict accountability of the military dictator and his team which created host of crises for the nation. He said the ruling alliance must respect the mandate of people and rid the nation of American slavery by taking independent and bold decision on foreign and domestic policies in the parliament.

 
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