KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Amir Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, on Thursday, dismissed demands for fresh elections, instead calling for the formation of a new government based on the results of the February 8 polls, as reflected in Form 45. "A re-election in the prevailing circumstances will make no big difference," he told a group of media persons at a local hotel.
He dubbed the incumbent coalition rule in the country a "fake Form 47 government”, saying that it was imposed on the nation like "a fake mayor was imposed on Karachi". He vowed to continue ‘Karachi Rights Movement’ to highlight the problems of the megacity and its people.
"The JI emerged as the single largest party in the local government elections, whereas the general elections saw further rise in its electoral support in Karachi," he claimed.
He said the MQM failed to win a single seat in Feb 8 polls as per the Form 45 across the metropolis, but instead it was declared a victorious party with huge 15 seats for the national assembly.
He said that Karachi, which is known as a mini Pakistan, is running the entire country with its revenues and trade, but it is forced in a dictatorial way to recognise "goons and unelected representatives”.
Hafiz Naeem regretted for ever rising civic and economic issues of Karachi, saying "the city once called a financial and trade hub has gradually grown as the hub of problems with the soaring law and order and infrastructure depletions".
Warning about the looming unrest amongst the people of Karachi, he said that the ruling power in the country has widely failed to sense the changing public views about their negative policies hurting everyone.
He said that coercive actions will fail if applied to change the public opinions, saying that the JI unlike the ruling elite is all aware of the situation and is making efforts to soothe the angry public who are faced with daily problems.
The JI Pakistan Chief also raised the long-running electricity load shedding problem along with rising street crime, water shortage, and other issues in Karachi and held the ruling PPP responsible for them.
"Electoral and other reforms may prove vital to help the society grow out of its problems and find the course of development," Hafiz Naeem acknowledged and proposed a proportional electoral representation in this regard.
About the situation in Gaza, he said that the government should have played an active role for the cause and people of Palestine. "The US and other western nations have been supporting Israel openly but unfortunately the Muslim world has adopted a criminal silence on Gaza," he added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024