FAISALABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has warned that his party will launch a nationwide protest if the government fails to reduce electricity prices.
Speaking to the media after addressing party members in Faisalabad, Naeem-ur-Rehman urged the public to prepare for a collective call to action. He emphasized that Jamaat-e-Islami is compelled to take a stand for the people’s rights in the absence of government relief.
Naeem-ur-Rehman revealed that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had visited Jamaat-e-Islami’s headquarters in Mansoura to brief the party leadership on progress regarding agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Despite the assurances, he reiterated that the party would not hesitate to mobilize a protest movement if relief measures are not implemented.
The gathering was attended by senior Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, including Punjab Central Ameer Javed Kasuri and District Ameer Mehboob-uz-Rahman Butt. Naeem-ur-Rehman also announced the formation of public committees across the country to spearhead a struggle for the rights of the people. He urged the government to act swiftly and reduce electricity tariffs to prevent further escalation.
Criticizing the government, he highlighted the disparity between the public’s hardships and the privileges enjoyed by the ruling elite. As an example, he condemned the Punjab Assembly’s recent 1,000 percent salary increase for its members, which coincided with a 25 percent hike in gas prices. He accused the ruling class of enriching itself while ordinary citizens continue to face rising costs of living.
Naeem-ur-Rehman also criticized misleading economic statistics, calling for taxes on landlords, relief for small farmers, and an end to the exploitation of sugarcane farmers by the so-called sugar mafia.
On the issue of madrasa registration, he reiterated JI’s support for the 2019 agreement signed with madrasa organizations, advocating for the registration of madrasas under this framework. He opposed tying madrasa registration to the controversial 26th Amendment, which he claimed weakened the judiciary and entrenched the elite.
Addressing political concerns, Naeem-ur-Rehman referred to the current Prime Minister as a product of “Form 47” and accused the government of lacking popular support. He also criticized former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, accusing him of accepting fraudulent election results and perpetuating dynastic politics.
Regarding national security, Naeem-ur-Rehman condemned anti-national propaganda, asserting that such activities must not be tolerated, regardless of political affiliation. He stressed the importance of safeguarding the country’s ideological foundation and encouraged citizens to voice their grievances through democratic channels.
Concluding his address, the JI leader reaffirmed the party’s commitment to overhauling the outdated political system and advocating for the supremacy of the people, the constitution, and the rule of law. He called on workers to spread the party’s message, engage the youth, and prepare for a large-scale movement aimed at challenging the current political and social order.
