Hafiz Naeemur Rehman calls for support for negotiations, criticizes fuel taxes and government spending policies
JI leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman. PHOTO: FILE
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Wednesday urged Pakistan to support ongoing Iran-US talks and warned against “falling for the deception” of US President Donald Trump.
Addressing a press conference in Mansoorah, the JI chief said Washington’s decision to negotiate reflected its “defeat” and Iran’s success. He said Tehran had held firm over the Strait of Hormuz and questioned why the US had failed to secure its opening if it had achieved its goals.
On the Palestine issue, he said the people had not surrendered and continued their resistance. He called for cases to be filed 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 demanded international justice.
Read: PTI, JI agree on the need for no-confidence motion against Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab
Referring to tensions involving Iran, Naeem held Trump and Netanyahu responsible for any attack on Tehran, adding that the influence of the United States and Israel had diminished after confronting Iran.
On the domestic front, he strongly criticized the government’s economic policy, particularly the oil tax, calling it unfair. He said that Rs 900 billion was collected from the poor and middle class, with around 25 million motorcyclists bearing the burden. He demanded the immediate abolition of the tax and reduction of fuel prices.
The JI chief also criticized government spending, terming the reported purchase of a Rs11 billion plane for Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the supply of expensive vehicles to the bureaucracy as unjustified. He urged the minister to sell the plane and deposit the amount in the national treasury, suggesting officials use smaller vehicles.
Read more: Balochistan crisis: JI plans jirgas in major cities
He also called for the activation of the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project to address the energy crisis and urged a unified foreign policy involving Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and the Gulf states to counter the US and Israel.
Naeem demanded investigations into agreements with independent power producers and the closure of thermal plants to reduce electricity costs. He said the party would organize peaceful protests to push for relief in fuel prices and other public issues. Senior leaders including Ziauddin Ansari, Javed Qasuri and Sajid Namoos were also present.
