Rehman says Washington’s decision to sit at the negotiating table reflects its defeat
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, head of JI. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Tuesday urged the government to support the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States instead of “falling into the trap” of US President Donald Trump.
Addressing a press conference in Mansoura, the JI chief noted that Iran remained firm on the Strait of Hormuz and questioned why the United States had failed to secure its opening if it had achieved all its goals. He claimed that the Iranian resistance had been successful.
Rehman said Washington’s decision to come to the negotiating table reflected its defeat and Iran’s success.
Speaking on the Palestinian issue, the JI leader said the Palestinian people had not surrendered and continued their resistance. He demanded that cases be brought 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 70 percent of the victims being women and children, and called for international legal action against U.S. 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 the world would gradually free itself from their influence.
Domestically, Rehman criticized the government’s economic policies, particularly the imposition of taxes on oil, calling them unfair.
He said Rs900 billion was collected from the poor and middle classes under the tax, and around 25 million motorcyclists bore the burden. He demanded the immediate removal of the tax and a reduction in fuel prices, saying prices could fall if the tax was removed.
He also criticized government spending, terming the purchase of an 11 billion rupees plane for Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the provision of expensive vehicles to the bureaucracy as unjustified.
He called on Maryam Nawaz to sell the aircraft and deposit the amount in the exchequer, and suggested that all officials, including the army chief, navy chief and ministers, should use 1,300 cc vehicles.
The JI friend also urged activation of the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project to tackle the energy crisis. He called for a unified foreign policy involving Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and other Gulf states to counter the ambitions of the United States and Israel.
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 the closure of thermal power plants to reduce the burden of electricity costs on consumers.
