Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman: Strike on Sept 3, Long March to Follow

Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman: Strike on Sept 3, Long March to Follow

FAISALABAD: August 28: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman on Friday warned that public patience had run out, saying swelling crowds at the JI’s protest rallies had left the government with no option but to accept its demands or face a nationwide strike on September 3 and a march on Islamabad.
Addressing a large public gathering at the site of the JI sit-in in Faisalabad, Rehman announced that sit-ins would begin in Quetta from Saturday, while major public gatherings would be held in Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Karachi as part of the ongoing campaign against the petroleum levy, expensive electricity, Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and inflation.
“The rulers have no option now but to accept the demands of the people,” Rehman said, warning that the protests would continue and the government would be forced to retreat. He urged opposition parties to join the campaign, saying the issues being raised by his party concerned the entire population.
The JI chief said the people were struggling to pay household rents and their children’s school fees as prices of electricity, gas, petrol, flour, sugar and other necessities continued to rise. He described the petroleum levy as a “jagga tax” and questioned why consumers were not being given relief despite a decline in international petroleum prices.
“People have been pushed to the wall by rising petrol prices and the petroleum levy,” he said, demanding an immediate withdrawal of the levy, cheaper electricity and bread, and action against the IPP mafia.
“Jamaat-e-Islami is not a party of feudal lords or influential families. We took to the streets to fight for the rights of ordinary citizens.” He said the ruling elite was enjoying privileges at the expense of taxpayers while millions struggled to meet basic needs.
Rehman recalled his JI protest against IPPs two years ago, saying 1,300 workers were arrested during the peaceful campaign. He said the government had initially refused to negotiate with IPPs but was later compelled to engage them when the movement intensified. He said the present protests would continue until the petroleum levy was withdrawn and the government took measures to reduce electricity costs. “We are not asking for charity; we are demanding our rights,” he said.
Criticising the Punjab government, he said that Maryam Nawaz had ruined Punjab, while Shehbaz Sharif’s policies were misleading the people rather than providing them relief. He also launched a sharp attack on the PPP, calling it an “A-plus party of the establishment”. He said that the PPP, PML-N were engaged in political infighting while ignoring the problems confronting ordinary citizens.
Rehman demanded respect for the public mandate and the release of all political prisoners.
Referring to the recent tragedy at PIMS hospital, Rehman questioned the state of healthcare facilities in the country. He said families had barely welcomed newborn children before having to receive their bodies, adding that basic facilities were unavailable at the Islamabad hospital.
“If this is the condition of PIMS, what would be the situation of government hospitals in other cities?” he asked, adding that the Punjab government had also failed to effectively run basic health facilities.
Discussing youth and technological development, Rehman said Pakistan’s young population was not being provided equal opportunities. He said the world was entering the age of artificial intelligence, but Pakistan was failing to establish adequate data centres and technological infrastructure. He said Pakistan could compete with advanced economies if young people were given opportunities, skills and a supportive environment. The JI emir also criticised the situation concerning women’s safety, drug abuse, policing and the judicial system. He said that thousands of cases of violence against women had been reported in Punjab and added that young people were increasingly being pushed towards drugs. He said millions of cases were pending in Pakistani courts, describing the judicial system as ineffective and calling for fundamental reforms.
The Faisalabad gathering was also addressed by JI Punjab Central Emir Javed Qasoori, Faisalabad district emir Professor Mehboob-ul-Zaman Butt, Punjab Central Secretary General Babar Rasheed, National Labour Federation President Shams-ur-Rehman Swati, Kissan Board President Sardar Zafar Hussain and former Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Rana Sikandar Azam.