Hafiz Naeemur Rehman says JI’s march towards Islamabad was aimed at securing public rights
HYDERABAD/TANDO ADAM, Sep 20 (daily paklish ): Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Engineer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said Sunday that the party’s march towards Islamabad was aimed at securing public rights and would continue until its demands were accepted.
The train march, led by Hafiz Naeem, left Karachi for Islamabad against the petroleum levy, inflation and the growing economic burden on citizens. It received a large welcome at railway stations in Hyderabad and Tando Adam, where thousands of men, women, party workers and citizens gathered.
Addressing supporters at Hyderabad Railway Station, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said the movement was not being organised for any personal or party objective but for the rights of the people. He said reaching Islamabad was not an end in itself, but part of the struggle to secure public demands. He said the JI’s 29-day sit-in in Hyderabad would continue until the protesters’ demands were accepted. He also thanked women who had participated in the sit-in and the reception.
Criticising petroleum prices, JI leader said that Rs135 per litre was being collected as petroleum levy. He said the government should abolish the levy and ensure transparency in petroleum pricing, adding that petrol could then be available below Rs200 per litre.
He also called for the withdrawal of fixed charges and additional taxes on electricity and gas bills and urged the government to provide affordable utilities. He demanded a review of agreements with independent power producers (IPPs) that, he said, placed an additional financial burden on consumers.Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said people were already facing severe inflation and needed immediate and meaningful relief instead of additional taxes. He criticised the privileges enjoyed by the ruling elite and bureaucracy, saying government expenditure and elite privileges were being passed on to ordinary citizens.
He said the country’s economic system imposed an unfair tax burden on rich and poor alike while the ruling elite remained unwilling to give up state resources and privileges. Referring to talks with the government, the JI chief said government negotiating teams had attended discussions but had failed to present concrete proposals for addressing public grievances. He said the JI was seeking to represent people’s problems rather than pursue conventional politics.
At Tando Adam Railway Station, the Rahman Baba Express carrying the JI delegation was received by thousands of men and women. Party workers carrying flags and banners raised slogans in support of Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman and the JI, while flowers were showered on the leaders as the train arrived.
Addressing the gathering, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said people from different sections of society were joining the JI’s nationwide protest campaign. He said the train march from Karachi to Islamabad was intended to highlight public demands for relief from inflation and what the party calls unjust taxes. He said the next stop would be Rohri, after which the caravan would continue towards Islamabad. He added that people from across the country would gather in the capital to press for their demands.