Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced a long march towards Islamabad on September 20, calling on other political parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to join the protest.
Addressing a public gathering in Gujranwala, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said the large turnout should serve as a warning to the rulers that people would eventually take to the streets over the country’s worsening problems.
He invited PTI and other political parties to participate in the September 20 Islamabad long march.
The JI chief criticised the government over what he described as the failure to address the problems facing ordinary Pakistanis.
He said there was currently no one raising a strong voice for the people, adding that JI workers had been highlighting public grievances and challenging those who had allegedly deprived citizens of their rights for decades.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman blamed the country’s economic and social problems on a small elite class, which he alleged included feudal landlords and influential families.
He said children, young people and elderly citizens were still being forced to work at brick kilns, while women were also struggling to earn a livelihood.
The JI chief also criticised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, accusing her government of failing to protect women’s rights. He claimed that around 6,500 cases of violence against women had been reported in Punjab.
He further levelled allegations against Maryam Nawaz regarding her expenses during her visits to London and challenged her to make the expenses public. These allegations were made by Hafiz Naeemur Rehman during his speech.
Hafiz Naeem criticises petrol prices and taxes
Speaking about petroleum prices, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman criticised the government’s reliance on international oil prices as a justification for high petrol rates.
He said the government should also explain why consumers were being charged heavy petroleum levies and taxes.
He argued that locally produced oil was also being priced at rates comparable to imported oil and said a reduction in interest rates could generate significant revenue for the government.
JI chief questions State Bank autonomy
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman also questioned the State Bank of Pakistan’s autonomy, alleging that successive governments had worked with the banking sector and other influential groups.
He criticised PTI, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), saying all three major political parties had supported measures that strengthened the central bank’s autonomy.
He also accused the government of failing to take effective action against what he called banking, sugar, flour and independent power producer (IPP) mafias.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman again warned the government that it would not be able to withstand public pressure if large numbers of people took to the streets.
The JI chief’s announcement means the party is set to hold its Islamabad long march on September 20, with an invitation extended to PTI and other political parties to join the protest.
