RAWALPINDI, Pakistan — Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) emir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman declared on Sunday that the country’s ruling structure must be dismantled, accusing the government of failing to deliver relief while perpetuating an oppressive, mafia-driven system.
Speaking to a large public gathering at Liaquat Bagh, Rehman said his party’s workers had overcome administrative hurdles to hold the event, which he described as part of a broader nationwide movement.
Accusations of Electoral Manipulation and Economic Failure
Rehman alleged that when the public rejects certain leaders, they are installed through what he called “Form 47,” a reference to alleged electoral manipulation. He criticized the current administration for its inability to provide basic services.
“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 government has failed on both health and public welfare fronts, leaving ordinary citizens to bear the brunt of rising prices and economic hardship.
Nationwide Sit-Ins and Peaceful Resistance
The JI leader noted that what began as a single sit-in has now expanded to multiple cities, including Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, and Chitral. He said Liaquat Bagh was filled to capacity, signaling growing public discontent.
“Jamaat-e-Islami is a peaceful party and believes in peaceful struggle,” Rehman said. “We have no personal agenda. We do not engage in politics of personality or nepotism.”
He warned that if the people’s problems remain unresolved, the government would be unable to manage the situation should the party call for a long march.
Call for Systemic Change
Rehman’s address underscored a central demand: the removal of current rulers and the replacement of what he called an oppressive system. His remarks reflect deepening political tensions in Pakistan, where economic pressures and allegations of electoral irregularities have fueled public protests.
The JI has positioned itself as a peaceful opposition force, focusing on systemic reform rather than individual political gains. The coming weeks will test whether this message resonates beyond its traditional base and pressures the government to respond.
