JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the democracy had become a hostage in the incumbent regime, reported 24News HD TV channel on Thursday. 

While addressing a public gathering in Abbottabad, Fazl said that the incumbent government had taken the economic growth below zero. He said previously the GDP growth rate was 5.5 percent. 

Fazlur Rehman said that the aim of gaining independence from the British had not been achieved as we were still slaves economically. He said instead of going up, the country’s economy was descending. 

“We were told that we will be independent economically. But all the hopes are dead and the people are disappointed. Today, common people do not have anything except hunger,” he said and added that the money in reserves was not ours. 

He said, “Today, the blasphemers are roaming free in European countries. We want to tell Europe that your enmity is not with the terrorists rather your actions tell that you are enemy of Islam.” 

He said the efforts were made to bring European culture and western culture into Pakistan through NGOs.