JI announces post-Ramazan protest drive

Hafiz Naeem blames ruling elite for economic strain, industrial decline

HARIPUR:

The Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, on Friday announced a nationwide protest movement against Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to be launched after the holy month of Ramazan.

Addressing a public gathering in Haripur, he said that government incompetence had led to rising taxation, while the nation remained burdened under mounting interest payments. He alleged that mafias embedded within the ruling elite had "bled the public dry" in order to favour IPPs.

Rehman declared that the party would now adopt a path of resistance, urging the youth to prepare for a sustained struggle. "After Ramadan, we will initiate a countrywide movement against the IPP mafia. Their influence exists across all political parties, and the time has come to rid the country of their grip," he said.

The JI leader observed that Haripur and the Hazara region constituted a major industrial hub, which he claimed was in decline due to flawed government policies.

"No industry can survive where production costs are high and wages remain low," he remarked, adding that successive governments had continued to accumulate loans at the expense of the public.

He further said that, after solar power, hydroelectricity was the cheapest source of energy.

"When we call for the construction of small dams, the public rightly asks what has become of the dams initiated years ago," he added.

Criticising mainstream political parties, he said that both Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) were dominated by families and feudal interests. "If there is no democracy within their own parties, how can they deliver democracy to the country?" he questioned.

On international affairs, he condemned Israel, alleging acts of genocide, and described it as a "terrorist state". He criticised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for suggesting that former US President Donald Trump be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize, stating that Trump was a patron of Israel. "Listen, Shehbaz Sharif - America is a flickering lamp destined to be extinguished. Those who pin their hopes on Trump will sink with him," he asserted.