LAHORE - Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq has called upon the government to fix the limit on landholding to wipe out feudalism as was done by India soon after partition.
Addressing a farmers’ convention at Rajowal in Okara on Wednesday, he said that millions in the country were not having even a small piece of land for shelter while feudal lords were no aware of the boundaries of their lands. After coming in power, JI would distribute the vast lands of the political pharaohs and pundits among landless farmers.
“The agents of the British rulers had got these lands in return for their betrayal of Islam and the nation and therefore the poor farmers have a right over these lands,” he stated.
Siraj advised the rich not to test the patience of the poor and should fear of marches towards their palaces. All those exploiting the masses should realise that if they did not mend their ways, public would be compelled to rise against them, he further warned. He added that the two-year performance of the present regime had been disappointing as price hike, loadshedding, lawlessness and unemployment had made life hell for the people. “The problems of only the ministers and assembly members of the ruling party alone are being solved while the problems facing the general public remain unattended”, he remarked.
The JI chief said that Pakistan was an agricultural country and its farmers worked hard day and night, but they did not get any return for their labour. When their crops were ready, the industrialists would lift the produce on cheaper rates and the growers remained high and dry, he said.
“The JI, on coming to power, would provide subsidy to the growers on seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and farm machinery. The JI government would provide free treatment to the people suffering from diseases of cancer, heart, kidney, hepatitis and thalassaemia at government hospitals. The citizens having monthly earnings below Rs30,000 would be provided basic food items including flour, sugar, tea, rice and cooking oil on subsidized rates,” he vowed.