KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) central chief, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Saturday said the country’s existing political system had failed, insisting that only those who genuinely win elections should govern instead of “imposing defeated candidates” through, what he described, “Form 47 system.”
Speaking at a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq, he said Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s recent remarks amounted to an admission that both those were “imposed through Form 47” and those responsible for the process had failed.
“The country’s problems will start to ease when elected representatives are allowed to govern and every institution works within its constitutional limits,” he said.
Naeemur Rehman said public attention was repeatedly diverted from real national issues through unnecessary controversies that encouraged ethnic divisions and political polarisation.
CriticiSing the political system, he said local government elections had not been held in Punjab since 2015. He also claimed that despite its electoral strength, Jamaat-e-Islami was prevented from securing the Karachi mayor’s office. Referring to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), he questioned its electoral mandate, alleging that it had itself benefited from the same system it now defended.
Calling for major political reforms, the JI chief demanded the introduction of a proportional representation electoral system, the release of political prisoners and an end to what he described as unnecessary privileges enjoyed by the ruling elite, including political and military leadership.
Announcing a nationwide protest campaign against the petroleum levy, which he called an unfair burden on the public, Naeemur Rehman said the party would hold youth demonstrations on Aug 2, a women’s march on Shahrah-i-Quaidin in Karachi on Aug 3, and nationwide protests, including road blockades, on Aug 7.
He said the petroleum levy had placed an excessive financial burden on low- and middle-income families, arguing that every increase in fuel prices pushed up the cost of transport, food and other essential goods. He also criticised the government’s taxation policies, saying ordinary citizens were paying the price while the ruling class remained unwilling to reduce its own spending and privileges.
The JI chief said the government had failed to resolve the country’s economic problems and accused the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) of widespread inefficiency and corruption. He also criticised recent changes to solar energy policies, saying they discouraged people from adopting affordable alternatives to costly electricity.
Turning to Karachi, Naeemur Rehman said the country’s commercial capital continued to face neglect despite its vital contribution to the national economy. He alleged that the PPP had retained control over the city’s institutions and resources while residents continued to suffer from poor civic services and inadequate public facilities.
Commenting on the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, he expressed regret over the recent unrest and said the crisis should have been resolved through dialogue instead of force. He warned that the use of force would deepen public resentment and create opportunities for hostile external elements to exploit the situation.
Naeemur Rehman also expressed grief over the reported killing of 35 coal miners in Balochistan and extended his condolences to the bereaved families.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026