MQM's decision will provide government temporary relief, says Fazl

Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, Chief of Jamait-e-Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) and Chairman, National Assembly's Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs has said that MQM's decision to rejoin the government is a short-term initiative as it will provide a temporary relief to an unstable PPP government.
He said that now JUI is not the part of government and also has no plan to rejoin it. "I want to make it clear that JUI is still sticks to its decision of separation from government, as we are not being taken into confidence on different issues such as RGST and NRO," said Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman during a meeting with businessmen at Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, here on Monday at the Federation House.
To a question, he said all religious parties were united on the issue of 'Namoos-e-Risalat' law and hoped that their unity could help revive Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) soon. He also announced that a grand public meeting would be held on January 30, 2011 in Lahore.
Criticising the role of international financial institutions, he said that IMF and US were seeking changes in the country's Islamic and economic laws, which will not be accepted, he said. Maulana said, "we have over 4 billion tons of gold reserves in Sandak (Balochistan) and some 175 billion tons of coal reserves in Thar, however, government is not planning to utilise these reserves and getting new loans from IMF." Fazl said the government and the political parties should set their priorities in the light of global scenario to make economy strong. He said the country needed consistent and long-term economic policies to ensure growth in industry and trade for better living standards of people and integrity of the country.
The JUI Chief also emphasised the need for making serious and sincere efforts at different levels for strengthening the country's economy and endorsed the business community's stand that only a strong economy was the answer to all challenges of the country's economy.
"A strong defence system alone is not enough for the country's protection and integrity," he maintained and cited the example of former United Soviet which disintegrated because of a deteriorating economy, despite having a strong defence system. According to him this is not an era of weapons and now countries are being controlled through international financial institutions such as IMF and the World Bank and countries like Pakistan are their targets.
He said that Pakistan's stand on Kashmir issue had been generally endorsed by the world, however, the country failed to get the needed support from the international community only because of our economic woes. The Maulana said that it is universal right of masses that the Government should provide peace and good economic environment to them to lead to a quality life. Once these principles followed by the Muslim Ummah, had been adopted by Europe and United States etc and now they were trying to rule the world.
"They have also emerged as socially and economically advanced countries because of strictly pursuing the Islamic agenda," he said. He also said it would be proper to pressurise people to pay taxes if the government also provides peace and sound economy to its people.
He supported the FPCCI demand that the Government should take the business representatives on board while taking important decisions in relation to economic policies, including annual budget of the country. He assured the business community full co-operation and support, on his and party's behalf in resolution of its genuine problems for promotion of trade and industry in the country.
Earlier, President FPCCI Senator Haji Ghulam Ali, Leader of Businessmen Panel and former president FPCCI Tariq Sayeed, President India-Pak Chamber of Commerce and Industry and former president FPCCI, S M Muneer, Vice President Saarc Chamber of Commerce and Industry and former president FPCCI Iftikhar Ali Malik apprised the JUI-F Chief of the problems faced by the industry and trade. Among others, Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan, Senator Lashkari Raisani, Federal Advisor to Textile Industry and leading businessman Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Vice Presidents FPCCI Khalid Tawab, Dawood Jakhura and Muhammad Tariq Shafi were present.