Hafiz Naeemur Rehman calls for support for negotiations and criticizes fuel tax and public spending policies
JI leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman. PHOTO: ARCHIVE
Jamaat-e-Islami member Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Wednesday urged Pakistan to support the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States, warning against “falling into the deception” of US President Donald Trump.
At a news conference in Mansoorah, the JI chief said Washington’s decision to negotiate reflected its “defeat” and Iran’s success. He said Tehran had held firm over the Strait of Hormuz and questioned why the United States had failed to secure its opening if it had achieved its goals.
On the Palestinian issue, he said that the people have not given up and continue their resistance. He called for bringing cases in international courts against Trump and the Israeli leadership, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He claimed that more than 90,000 Palestinians had been martyred in Gaza over the past two and a half years, with women and children making up 70 percent of the victims, and demanded international legal action.
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Referring to tensions involving Iran, Naeem blamed Trump and Netanyahu for any attack on Tehran, adding that the influence of the United States and Israel had diminished after confronting Iran.
Domestically, he harshly criticized the government’s economic policies, particularly the oil tax, calling it unfair. He said Rs 900 billion was being collected from the poor and middle classes, and around 25 million motorcyclists were bearing the burden. He demanded the immediate abolition of the tax and a reduction in fuel prices.
The JI chief also criticized the government’s expenditure, calling the alleged purchase of an aircraft worth Rs 11,000 crore for Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the supply of expensive vehicles to the bureaucracy as unjustified. He urged the prime minister to sell the plane and deposit the amount in the national treasury, and suggested that officials use smaller vehicles.
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He also called for the activation of the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project to address the energy crisis and urged a unified foreign policy involving Saudi Arabia, Iran, Türkiye and the Gulf states to counter the United States and Israel.
Naeem demanded investigations into agreements with independent power producers and the closure of thermal plants to reduce electricity costs. He said the party would organize peaceful protests to push for relief on fuel prices and other public issues. Senior leaders including Ziauddin Ansari, Javed Qasuri and Sajid Namoos were also present.
