Political order being shaped by individuals lacking integrity: JI

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Central Chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman warned on Thursday that the national economic outlook is deteriorating, debt pressure is intensifying, and the political order is being shaped by individuals lacking integrity.

Addressing at the “Change the System Public Convention” on Professor Abdul Ghafoor Ahmad Road in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, he said a rising stock market does not reflect genuine economic progress but only speculative activity.

He noted that the country lacks authentic political representation to advocate for farmers, students, and low- and middle-income groups.

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said Parliament is dominated by elite-driven interests, leaving no meaningful space for workers and ordinary citizens. He criticised the establishment for sidelining merit and enabling corrupt figures to assume public office.

He further said ruling parties continue to seek institutional approval, while the establishment itself prefers compromised individuals for leadership roles.

He took aim at the Pakistan Peoples Party, describing it as controlled by a small circle of feudal families. He said JI is working with citizens nationwide to drive substantive political change and noted that youth engagement with the party is increasing.

The “Bano Qabil” programme has registered 1.2 million young people, while JI’s organisational reach among women is expanding as well, he added.

He highlighted Al-Khidmat’s social work as the largest in the country, arguing that public confidence in JI and Al-Khidmat stems from financial transparency.

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said entrenched feudal and tribal groups have dominated rural populations for generations and are now extending their influence into urban centres.

He said those who benefited from colonial patronage still control national politics, leaving citizens trapped under bureaucracy and exploitation.

He alleged that the ruling class has undermined education, the economy, Parliament, and the judiciary to maintain its dominance, while political parties continue to function on hereditary lines. He reiterated that JI positions itself as the genuine representative of the public and capable of challenging this entrenched structure.

He announced that JI will hold an All-Pakistan Public Gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore from November 21 to 23 under the theme “Change the System,” where the party will outline a national-level strategy aimed at overhauling the existing political order.

The convention also approved resolutions condemning government-backed land grabs in cooperative housing societies and the prolonged delays, cost increases, and public inconvenience caused by the BRT Red Line project. The resolutions called for a firm completion date for the Red Line and the formation of a commission of senior judges to examine cooperative housing issues.

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said Pakistan’s challenges can only be addressed through a fair and lawful governance framework that ensures constitutional authority, judicial independence, parliamentary strength, and respect for public mandate.

He said parties supported by the establishment have collectively damaged constitutional safeguards, weakened Parliament, and influenced the judiciary.

He added that the 26th Amendment further harmed the constitutional structure and the 27th Amendment compounded the damage, leaving both constitutional order and democratic norms compromised.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025