Govt has not taken nation into confidence over IMF deal: Sirajul Haq

Lahore: Ameer, Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan, Senator Sirajul Haq, has said that the government had not taken public into confidence in agreement with the IMF so far and seemed to be keeping the masses in the dark in this regard. Giving his reaction over the government talks with the IMF, he said the government had raised the prices of electricity, gas and POL before approaching the IMF and the prices of these items would be enhanced further.  As a result of the agreement, the value of the rupee would go down further and dollar rate would go up. The JI chief said that for the first time, the Prime Minister of the country had to appear before the IMF Managing Director which was unbecoming of the head of the government. Sirajul Haq said that the rulers were overjoyed over the successful dialogue  for the IMF loan. He said that as a result of the fresh terms of the loan, a flood of price hike would follow. The JI chief said that unless and until, the rulers decided to give up the loan based economy and returned to the policy of self reliance, the economy of the country could not improve. He said that the government was extending tax concessions to its favourites  while the common people were being further burdened through indirect taxes.