JI slams govt's 'false narrative of progress'

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has blasted the federal and provincial governments, claiming that 44 per cent of the population was living below the poverty line while the ruling elite continued to project an illusion of good governance through expensive media campaigns.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday at the party headquarters in Mansoora, the JI chief denounced the recently announced national budget as "anti-people" as it burdened citizens with excessive taxes while offering little relief. He accused the government of using global oil prices as an excuse to increase fuel rates, arguing that a 40 per cent reduction in petrol prices could be achieved if the petroleum levy were abolished.

"The government's wasteful spending and luxurious lifestyles must end if we want to put the country on the path of real development," he said.

Naeem also slammed the meagre allocation of funds in the education sector, pointing out that despite budgetary claims, the privatisation of public schools indicated a lack of genuine investment in education. He further lambasted the political leadership across provinces, saying, "The uncle rules at the centre, the niece in Punjab and their allies in Sindh, all engaged in a scripted political wrestling match".