Naeemur Rehman says 'Form 47' has failed

Naeemur Rehman says 'Form 47' has failed

Says only way forward is to let electoral mandate rule country

JI chief demands proportional representation, release of political prisoners, end to elite privileges

Party announces nationwide protests against petroleum levy, criticises governance in Karachi, Azad Kashmir

Women march on August 3, country wide protest on August 7

KARACHI: AUG 1: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Pakistan Ameer Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Saturday said that the existing political system had failed, arguing that those who won elections should be allowed to govern instead of "imposing defeated candidates" through what he described as the "Form 47 system."
Addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-i-Haq, he said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi's recent remarks amounted to an acknowledgment that both those "imposed through Form 47" and those responsible for the process had failed.
"The country's problems will begin to resolve when the winners are allowed to govern and everyone functions within their constitutional limits," he said, adding that controversies were often raised to divert public attention from the real issues and create ethnic divisions.
The JI chief criticised the delay in holding local government elections in Punjab since 2015 and said that his party had been prevented from securing the Karachi mayor's office despite its electoral strength. He also questioned the Pakistan Peoples Party's electoral mandate, claiming it was itself a beneficiary of the same system it now defended.
Calling for structural political reforms, Naeemur Rehman urged the introduction of a proportional representation system, the release of political prisoners, and an end to what he termed unnecessary privileges enjoyed by the ruling elite, including the military and political leadership.
Announcing a nationwide protest campaign against the petroleum levy, which he described as an unjust burden on the public, he said JI would hold a women's march on Shahrah-i-Quaidin in Karachi on Aug 3, youth demonstrations on Aug 2, and countrywide protests, including road blockades, on Aug 7.
He maintained that the petroleum levy disproportionately affected low- and middle-income households, arguing that rising fuel prices triggered inflation across all sectors. He also criticised the government's tax policies, saying that ordinary citizens were bearing the burden while the ruling class remained unwilling to reduce its own expenditures.
Naeemur Rehman said the government had failed to address the country's economic challenges and accused the Federal Board of Revenue of widespread inefficiency and corruption. He also criticised changes in solar energy policies, saying they discouraged citizens from seeking alternatives to expensive electricity.
Turning to Karachi, he said the city remained Pakistan's economic hub but continued to suffer from neglect by both the federal and provincial governments. He said that the PPP had retained control over the city's institutions and resources while residents remained deprived of basic civic facilities.
Commenting on the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the JI leader expressed regret over the recent unrest, saying the crisis should have been resolved through dialogue rather than force. He warned that the use of force would deepen resentment and create opportunities for hostile external actors.
He also expressed sorrow over the reported killing of 35 coal miners in Balochistan and extended his condolences to the victims' families.