PESHAWAR
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has announced plans to launch a major movement after Ramadan against high electricity prices and Independent Power Producers (IPPs), criticizing the government for failing to provide relief to the people.
Speaking at the “Meet the Press” program at the Peshawar Press Club (PPC) here on Tuesday, he condemned the growing influence of the IMF, claiming it now has access to the Supreme Court, questioning the nation’s sovereignty.
He lamented that politics, judiciary, and journalism were under complete control, with force being used to manipulate outcomes.
The JI chief criticized the PECA law as an attack on free speech and called for its repeal. Addressing the unrest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he condemned the attack on a convoy in Kurram and stressed that ensuring security was a joint responsibility of the federal and provincial governments.
Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman urged Islamabad and Kabul to engage in meaningful dialogue, ensuring Afghan soil was not used for terrorism in Pakistan.
He also warned that international pressure on Pakistan to recognize Israel is expected to rise and urged the government to resist such moves.
Highlighting economic hardships, he slammed the elite-controlled system, where parliamentarians have increased their salaries by 300%, while inflation continues to burden the public. He criticized the rising costs of electricity, fuel, and essential commodities, calling for immediate price adjustments.
JI, he affirmed, was ready to mediate Pakistan-Afghanistan peace talks and urged the government to engage all stakeholders to address the root causes of terrorism. He stressed that military operations alone were not the solution and called for investment in education, healthcare, employment, and infrastructure.
