JI holds protest rally against Sindh LG law in Karachi

Hafiz Naeem says more protest marches planned in various parts of city as Sindh Assembly sit-in continued on 17th day

The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) held a protest rally on Karachi's Sharea Faisal on Sunday against the Sindh Local Government Act, passed recently by the PPP government in the province. A large number of people participated in the rally, causing traffic gridlocks on the main artery of the city and adjoining areas.

The rally later culminated outside the Sindh Assembly where the religio-political party has been staging a sit-in for the past 17 days.

Addressing the rally, JI Karachi chief Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that the city drives Pakistan's economy and regretted its condition under the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government in Sindh.

"I have a message for people of Pakistan... Punjab, Balochistan and K-P's economies are linked with Karachi... the metro bus projects of Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi have been funded with the tax money collected from this city," he said.

He urged the people of other provinces to join hands with JI in getting Karachi its due rights. Naeem said the youth of Karachi do not get jobs in the government sector, adding that the state has not been able to provide even a decent transportation system to the people of the metropolis.

"Karachi has the status of mini Pakistan... the tax collected from the city runs the economy of Pakistan... I urge people from all ethnicities to raise their voice for the rights of Karachi," he added.

Talking about the success of the JI's sit-in, Naeem said that it has now spread to different parts of the city and now the party is planning to carry out protest marches in various areas of the metropolis.

He said that their movement was not just for the prosperity of Karachi but for entire Pakistan as Karachi's progress is Pakistan's progress. JI leader urged Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to give back the rights to the city and withdraw the controversial law.

Naeem also vowed "saving Karachi from the clutches of the feudals", saying that they wanted to establish their control over the city now after "occupying" the interior Sindh. "Those who bagged votes from this city have sold it to the feudal lords."

He further said that JI will not let the rulers play with the future of the people of the city and will force them to withdraw the legislation.