Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Sirajul Haq has called for amendment in the transgender protection act, saying the so-called law is attack on the norms of Pakistani society. A person, he said while addressing a press conference at Mansoorah on Friday, should not be authorized to determine sex by own. The JI, he said, had proposed amendments bill in the senate, seeking creation of medical board to determine the gender if anyone applied for change in it in Nadra. The parliament, he said, must adopt the JI proposed amendment to block the promotion of liberal agenda. He made it clear the JI fully backed the rights of the transgender community but it would resist attack on the Islamic society.

He expressed concerns over reports that politicians were seeking relief in corruption cases under NAB amendment laws, saying no institution has the right to provide relief to those who looted public money. He said millions of people became homeless in floods but the nation was getting reports regarding extension of prime minister cabinet on daily basis. He said landlords and waderas had no right to enjoy official protocols and luxuries at cost of a poor nation’s money. The JI chief said the PDM government proved a nightmare for the people, breaking all records of inflation in only four months. He said the JI had postponed the protest movement against unfair taxes and increase in electricity tariff due to flood situation.

The JI, he said, would resume it after the competition of rehabilitation process in flood-hit areas. To a question, he replied the JI already called for devising a mechanism through parliament for army chief appointment like the appointment of chief justice of Pakistan, ending the prime minister prerogative for COAS appointment. To another question, he said the JI wanted election reforms before the elections. Talking about flood situation, he called for coordination among federal and provincial governments in rehabilitation activities, expressing concern over the so-far work done by the governments in the calamity hit areas. He said he made frequent visits to flood affected areas where he saw no harmony in government sponsored relief work.

People, he said, complained against the mismanagement and corruption in distribution of government aid. The government, he said, also lacked planning for rehabilitation activities and only waiting for foreign aid. As the winter is set to start in hilly areas particularly, Sirajul Haq expressed fear the millions of people living in tents would not be able to bear the harshness of weather conditions. Therefore, he said, there was dire need to adopt quick measures to provide weather proof shelters to the people. He appreciated the relief work launched by al-Khidmat Foundation and other welfare organization and appealed the nation to continue support in rehabilitation process.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-INP