Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has rejected a claim by Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari that his party holds a public mandate in Karachi. Speaking on Saturday, Hafiz Naeem said residents across Sindh, not only in Karachi, are increasingly unhappy with the PPP.
He accused the party of manipulating local government elections and relying on undemocratic methods to keep political control of the city.
Allegations over Karachi local government polls
Hafiz Naeem said the PPP suffered a heavy defeat in Karachi’s local government elections, finishing third or fourth in both seats and votes, while Jamaat-e-Islami emerged as the leading party. He alleged that the PPP redrew constituency boundaries to suit its own interests and then secured seats through rigging.
He further accused the party of buying the support of 32 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf members to install what he described as an illegitimate mayor. He also claimed the PPP had won seven National Assembly seats in Karachi through rigging.
Hafiz Naeem challenged Bilawal to produce Form 45 if he had the courage, and to substantiate his claimed mandate in the city.
Poverty and education criticism of Punjab government
On the economy, the JI chief cited a World Bank report stating that poverty is rising in Pakistan, with 23 per cent of the population living below the poverty line. He faulted the government for lacking an effective policy to tackle poverty and said Punjab had recorded a significant increase in poverty.
Hafiz Naeem also turned to education, claiming that 57 per cent of students failed ninth-grade examinations in Punjab. He accused the provincial government of selling schools rather than improving facilities. He noted that the Sharif family has governed Punjab for around 40 years, and questioned the province’s progress on schooling and poverty reduction.
Petroleum levy and interest-based finance under fire
He also targeted federal economic policy, particularly the handling of the petroleum levy and the interest-based financial system. He alleged that the government was expanding interest rather than eliminating it. He questioned why the petroleum levy should be retained while fuel prices are rising.
