Rehman says Washington’s decision to come to the negotiating table reflected its defeat
JI leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Tuesday called on the government to support ongoing talks between Iran and the US instead of “falling for US President Donald Trump’s deception”.
Addressing a press conference in Mansoorah, the JI chief noted that Iran remained adamant over the Strait of Hormuz and questioned why the US had failed to secure its opening if it had achieved all its objectives. He maintained that Iran’s resistance had proved successful.
Rehman argued that Washington’s decision to come to the negotiating table reflected its defeat and Iran’s success.
Speaking on the Palestine issue, the JI chief maintained that the Palestinian people had not surrendered and continued their resistance. He demanded that cases be brought in international courts against Trump and Israeli leadership, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He claimed that more than 90,000 Palestinians had been martyred in Gaza over the past two and a half years, with women and children making up 70 percent of the victims, and called for international legal action against US and Israeli leaders.
Referring to recent tensions involving Iran, the JI chief held the US president and Israeli prime minister responsible for any attack on Iran, adding that the power of the US and Israel had diminished after confronting Iran and that the world would gradually break free from their influence.
On the domestic front, Rehman criticized the government’s economic policies, particularly the imposition of oil excise taxes, calling them unfair.
He said Rs 900 billion was collected from the poor and middle class under the levy, with around 25 million motorcyclists bearing the burden. He called for the immediate abolition of the tax and a reduction in fuel prices, stating that prices could be lowered if the tax was withdrawn.
He also criticized the government’s spending, terming the purchase of a Rs11 billion plane for Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the provision of expensive vehicles to the bureaucracy as unjustified.
He urged Maryam Nawaz to sell the plane and deposit the amount in the national treasury and suggested that all officials including the army chief, navy chief and ministers should use 1300cc vehicles.
The JI Ameer also called for the activation of the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project to resolve the energy crisis. He called for a unified foreign policy involving Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and other Gulf states to counter US and Israeli ambitions.
He stressed that Muslim countries should put aside sectarian differences and stand with Iran. He further demanded investigations into agreements with independent power producers and closure of thermal plants to reduce the burden of electricity costs on consumers.
