Rights of farmers, laborers top agenda of JI forthcoming mass movement, says Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman

4گھنٹے پہلے

Rights of farmers, laborers top agenda of JI forthcoming mass movement, says Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman

Nowshera Virkan, Gujranwala — October 27: Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman on Monday said that securing the rights of farmers, labourers and young people will be the foremost demand of the party’s forthcoming mass mobilisation — the “Badal Do Nizam Ko” (Change the System) campaign that will begin from Minar-e-Pakistan.
Addressing a JI road caravan under the banner “Save Farmers, Save Pakistan” in Nowshehra Virkan, Gujranwala, Rehman urged smallholders to join the movement and called on the nation to make the party’s demand to break up feudal (jagirdar) estates a national cause. “Lands granted in return for loyalty to the British must be redistributed among small farmers and haris [sharecroppers],” he said.
The JI chief also rejected the Punjab government’s announced support price of Rs3,500 per maund for wheat and demanded that wheat be procured at Rs4,500 per maund. Kissan Board Pakistan organized the road caravan for small growers’ rights and the revival of agriculture.
Rehman criticised successive governments for neglecting agriculture despite some 60 percent of the population being linked to the sector. He said growth in agriculture had fallen from 6.5 percent to 0.5 percent in one year. He said the ruling elites allowed mafias to profit at farmers’ expense. “Wheat was purchased from growers at Rs2,000 per maund and sold in the market for as much as Rs5,000 — the difference was eaten by the mafia, who are part of every ruling party,” he said.
Highlighting rising input costs and the failure to enforce fixed prices, he argued that large landowners continue to benefit while small farmers and labourers suffer. “From the British era to today, a feudal structure persists in Pakistan that exploits ordinary people. The privileges enjoyed by rulers should be extended to farmers and workers,” he said.
The JI chief called on citizens to reclaim their rights from imposed classes through peaceful protests and participate in the party’s three-day public gathering in November. He said that, if elected, Jamaat-e-Islami would introduce judicial and structural reforms and implement fundamental changes in agriculture, education and health.
“Don’t expect solutions from the same tried faces — the system must change,” Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said, urging farmers and the public to unite for a people’s rule.