JI demands peace, rights for K-P

Announces Aug 16 sit-ins against petroleum levy, IPPs

PESHAWAR:

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Sunday called for restoring peace in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, ensuring the public's first right over the province's resources and minerals.

He also urged reopening of Pakistan-Afghanistan border trade, while welcoming the Makkah defence agreement as a step towards Muslim unity and calling for Iran and other Islamic countries to join the arrangement.

He also announced that JI would stage sit-ins outside the Punjab Chief Minister's House and the governor houses of K-P, Sindh and Balochistan on Aug 16 against the petroleum levy, independent power producers (IPPs) and the privileges and extravagance of the ruling elite.

He urged the people, particularly the youth of K-P, to participate in the protests.

Hafiz Naeem was speaking at a press conference at Al-Markaz Islami in Peshawar. JI K-P Central Emir Abdul Wasey, Secretary General Sabir Hussain Awan, Peshawar Emir Bahrullah Advocate, Deputy Emir Sohaibuddin Kakakhel, K-P Central Media Cell Director Ahmed Furqan Khalil and spokesperson Noorul Wahid Jadoon were also present.

The JI chief said providing security to the people of K-P was the government's foremost responsibility, while the people should be given their due share in the province's resources and mineral wealth.

He said providing employment to young people would help make meaningful progress towards resolving the province's problems.

He said the suspension of Pakistan-Afghanistan trade had caused serious concern among traders in both countries and called for the reopening of border trade. He also proposed establishing a Pak-Afghan border trade zone in consultation with all stakeholders.

Hafiz Naeem urged Islamabad and Kabul to resolve their differences through dialogue, stressing that Afghan territory must not be allowed to be used for terrorism against Pakistan.

He also called for easier travel arrangements for students of both countries, saying deterioration in relations between the two governments was affecting ordinary people, traders and students on both sides.

He said Saudi Arabia and Türkiye could also be approached for assistance in improving bilateral relations.

The JI emir condemned the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council's (PMDC) refusal to recognise medical degrees obtained by Pakistani students from Afghanistan and demanded that their degrees be recognised.