Respect the mandate, Siraj tells PPP

JI observes thanksgiving day; Naeem says will carry forward legacy of Abdul Sattar Afghani, Nematullah Khan

KARACHI:

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Ameer Sirajul Haq has demanded of the Pakistan Peoples Party government in Sindh to respect the mandate of Karachi.

The JI Ameer expressed these views while addressing the thanksgiving convention of the JI, Karachi held at New MA Jinnah Road on Friday.

The convention was held to mark the historic comeback of the party in the political arena of Karachi as the party surfaced as number one in the local government elections — with JI Karachi chief Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman poised to become the city mayor.

A large number of JI workers as well as the successful candidates from across the city reached the convention venue in caravans. The charged party workers chanted slogans against the "biased" PPP government in Sindh against Karachiites. 

JI supreme leader Sirajul Haq, in his keynote address, warned the PPP government against igniting the sentiments of Karachiites by usurping their mandate as “it will result in agitation of an unprecedented level.”

Talking about the future course of action, he said that Engr Naeemur Rehman will carry forward the legacy of Father of Karachi Abdul Sattar Afghani and Nematullah Khan.

Read more: Can move forward if PPP accepts JI's mandate: Rehman

On the occasion, he sought cooperation and support from the traders and industrialists fraternities in the mega city for the progress and development of the economic nerve of Pakistan. He also sought the cooperation of each and every Karachiite, interested in the future of the city.

JI Karachi chief Engr Naeemur Rehman in his speech said that following the local government elections, the JI has surfaced as the largest political and social reality in the city.

Talking about the future course of action in Karachi, he invited all political parties — elected in the local government polls — including the PPP, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz to develop a consensus for the betterment and progress of the city under the leadership of the JI’s mayor.

He added that a delegation of the PPP has already visited Idara Noor-e-Haq, whereas a JI delegation will be meeting with the PTI leadership.

He further said that the JI’s mayor will take onboard all political forces in the city as credit was not an issue for the JI but the development of the city and issues of Karachiites are.

There are a lot of speculations that the JI would form a coalition with the PPP in order to ensure smooth flow of funds for the mega city projects. He however made it clear that the JI knows how to get the due rights for Karachi and Karachiites and god willing, no power on earth can usurp the rights and due funds for the city government in Karachi. 

He further said that the JI had launched the Karachi Rights Movement long ago and the recent local government elections were a historic milestone in the journey of the movement.

He said that the JI provided leadership to the city and named Muzaffar Hashmi, Prof Gafoor, Ikhlaq Ahmed, Munawar Hasan, Father of Karachi Abdul Sattar Afghani, Nematullah Khan and several others in this regard.

He said that the city once known for its harmony, parks, libraries and transportation system was marred with the politics of divide and injustice but the JI always played its role despite immense hurdles.

He dedicated the victory in the local government polls to the martyrs of the JI who sacrificed their lives for the peace in the city. The JI workers were tortured, abducted and martyred but the party remained steadfast and never took the route of torture and weapons, he added.

The JI also took lead in the welfare sector as well as the rescue, relief and rehabilitation process during floods, earthquakes and other calamities, he added. He shed light in detail on the Bano Qabil Program and announced that free scholarship classes for over 10,000 students in the city will be commenced within a week.