Political games: Come make Karachi a better place, says JI leader

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Karachi chief, Hafiz Naeemur Rehmaninvites MQM workers to join them, criticises its previous actions

KARACHI: Sharing his concern about Karachi’s current situation and how politics for the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has turned the tables, Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) Karachi chief, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, has invited MQM workers to join his party if they are looking for a way out.

“Don’t use ‘walk-through gates’ to clear yourself of wrongdoings,” he said, while speaking at a press conference on Monday. “Clear your name by going to court and proving yourself innocent,” said Rehman, explaining how some MQM workers and leaders are joining other political parties but no one is asking them about their past deeds.

Also inviting the MQM’s leaders, he said that JI has its gates open for everyone who wants to work for the betterment of the city but they should be cleared and cannot have a criminal background. “The people who were once involved in crime can go to court and complete the procedure of punishment or forgiveness and are welcome to then join hands with JI,” he added.



Criticising the actions of MQM workers and their hold over the city, he said that they have not done anything for the city in the last 30 years. “They cannot bear anyone standing against them and have killed more than 100 workers of JI, even some district level officers,” Rehman claimed. He added that JI has also lost many members of [its student wing] Islami Jamiat Talba who stood against [MQM’s student wing] the All Pakistan Muttahida Students Organisation.

He said that MQM has made a state within a state and has its workers appointed in many governmental organisations.  “The city has been divided between the MQM and Pakistan Peoples Party,” he said, claiming the two parties have ruined Karachi.

Presenting a list of more than 200 illegal offices of political parties built in parks and even in government-owned buildings, Rehman said that they had presented the list in the Supreme Court and it had ordered the demolishment of the offices in 2011 but unfortunately it was never done.

“People will not be comforted by these plus minus cosmetic arrangements. They really need enjoyment places like parks,” he said, adding that these political parties have ruined the enjoyment of Karachiites and people now have nowhere to go for extracurricular activities.

JI’s Karachi chief also announced that, in order to resolve the daily issues of the people, the party will be opening public aid committee offices all over the city from September 1.

The members of the committee will include a mosque’s ulema, a well-known community leader and an educated youth, he explained.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2016.