Hafiz Naeemur Rehman calls for support for negotiations, criticizes government’s fuel tax and spending policies
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, head of JI. PHOTO: FILE
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Wednesday urged Pakistan to support the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States, warning against “being misled” by US President Donald Trump.
Addressing a news conference in Mansoura, the JI leader said Washington’s decision to negotiate reflected its “defeat” and Iran’s success. He said Tehran had stood firm on the Strait of Hormuz and questioned why the United States had failed to secure its opening if it had achieved its goals.
On the Palestinian issue, he said the people had not surrendered and continued their resistance. He called for bringing charges in international courts against Trump and Israeli leaders, 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 accounting for 70 percent of the victims, and demanded international legal action.
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Referring to tensions involving Iran, Naeem held Trump and Netanyahu responsible for any attacks on Tehran, adding that the influence of the United States and Israel had diminished after the confrontation with Iran.
Domestically, he strongly criticized the government’s economic policy, particularly the oil tax, calling it unfair. He said Rs900 billion was collected from the poor and middle classes, and around 25 million motorcyclists bore the burden. He demanded the immediate removal of the levy and a reduction in fuel prices.
The JI chief also criticized government spending, terming the purchase of an aircraft worth Rs 11 billion for Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the provision of expensive vehicles to the bureaucracy as unjustified. He urged the chief minister to sell the aircraft and deposit the amount in the state exchequer, and suggested officials to use smaller vehicles.
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He also called for activation of the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project to tackle the energy crisis and called for a unified foreign policy involving Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and the Gulf states to counter the United States and Israel.
Naeem demanded investigations into agreements with independent power producers and the closure of thermal power plants to reduce electricity costs. He said the party would hold peaceful protests to press for lower fuel prices and other issues of public interest. Top leaders including Ziauddin Ansari, Javed Qasuri and Sajid Namoos were also present.
