Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman Addresses Massive Rally in Rawalpindi
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) emir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman declared on Sunday that Pakistan’s ruling elite have failed to deliver relief to the public, and he called for sweeping changes to what he described as an oppressive, mafia-driven system. Speaking before a large crowd at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi, the religious-political leader said the current structure must be dismantled and its rulers removed.
Rehman praised JI workers for overcoming administrative obstacles to hold the gathering. He claimed that when the nation rejects certain rulers, they are nevertheless installed through what he called “Form 47,” a reference to alleged electoral manipulation. The term has been used by opposition figures to question the legitimacy of recent election results.
Accusations of Inflation and Failed Governance
The JI chief launched a sharp critique of the government, stating that the current rulers cannot provide health services or basic facilities to the nation. He accused the leadership of punishing citizens rather than offering relief, pointing to rising petrol prices and inflation as weapons against the people.
“This mafia can only punish the people, not provide relief,” Rehman said. “The rulers are giving the people petrol bombs and inflation, while Shehbaz Sharif is only being used to increase inflation.”
He argued that the system itself is the problem, not just individual leaders. According to Rehman, the oppressive framework must be changed fundamentally, and those in power must be removed. He noted that at the start of the JI sit-in, critics predicted workers would disperse quickly, but instead, Liaquat Bagh was full and protests continued in multiple cities.
Nationwide Sit-Ins and Peaceful Struggle
Rehman highlighted that sit-ins are ongoing in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, and Chitral, with people connected to the movement across the country. He emphasized that Jamaat-e-Islami is a peaceful party that believes in peaceful struggle, not personal agendas or personality politics.
“We do not engage in politics of personality or nepotism,” he said. “The problems of the people must be solved, otherwise the rulers will not be able to handle the situation on the call of the long march.”
The JI emir’s remarks come amid growing public frustration over economic pressures, including high utility costs and food inflation. His call for systemic change and the removal of rulers signals an escalation in the party’s protest campaign, which has drawn supporters from urban and rural areas alike.
