KARACHI: Central Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Thursday reiterated that the party would stage a sit-in outside the Sindh Assembly on February 14 to press for Karachi’s rights, resolution of civic issues and an empowered local government system.
Addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq, the JI Karachi headquarters, he said the protest would be held “come what may,” adding that a no-confidence motion against the Karachi mayor was only a matter of time. He termed the mayor an “usurper” and said the prevailing system of injustice would no longer be accepted.
He said the JI believed in peaceful, democratic and public struggle, and urged all provincial governments to empower local bodies in line with the Constitution.
Criticizing the federal government’s decision to abolish net metering and impose fixed electricity charges, he termed the move a betrayal of the public. He claimed Independent Power Producers receive Rs2 trillion annually while ordinary consumers are burdened with additional charges, and announced a nationwide protest movement after Ramadan against the decisions.
The JI chief also urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take the nation into confidence on reports regarding Pakistan’s involvement in a so-called “Board of Peace” on Gaza.
He said Pakistan has never recognized Israel and participation in such a forum would contradict national policy and public sentiment. He warned that any proposed “International Stabilization Force” in Gaza would effectively work against Palestinian resistance rather than Israel, and inclusion of Pakistani forces would go against national dignity and public beliefs.
Condemning Israeli and U.S. actions in Gaza, he described the bombardment as among the worst brutalities in human history and accused global powers of hypocrisy in claiming to promote peace while enabling destruction.
He also called for the rehabilitation and compensation of displaced residents of Tirah Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa amid harsh winter conditions.
Referring to the Pakistan Peoples Party’s 17-year rule in Sindh, he said Karachi had been neglected and deprived of funds despite being the country’s economic hub. He claimed that with limited powers in nine towns, the JI had still carried out work on schools, parks, roads, water reservoirs and sanitation.
The JI chief said Karachi’s population was 35 million, while the census recorded only 20 million. He alleged that 100,000 buildings were constructed in five years, 85,000 of them illegally, calling them “time bombs.” Referring to the Gul Plaza tragedy, he blamed incompetence and corruption in the Sindh government and the performance of the Sindh Building Control Authority. He said international standards require one fire station per 100,000 people, whereas Karachi has only 28, of which 21 are partially functional.
On Balochistan, Hafiz Naeem said repeated military operations since 1948 had failed to resolve issues and instead deepened deprivation, adding that flawed state policies allowed external forces to exploit the situation. He said the JI had consistently raised its voice for Baloch rights and highlighted public mobilisation and youth programmes, including over 100,000 registrations under the Bano Qabil initiative in Quetta, Jaffarabad and Gwadar.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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