JI Chief mocks Maryam-Bilawal exchanges as ‘political theatre’

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Thursday described the recent exchange of allegations between Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as “political theatre”, saying both parties were exposing each other over the issues of Form 47.

While addressing a press conference at the JI headquarters in Lahore’s Mansoora, he referred to the recent statements by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and PPP leadership regarding the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections and said the allegations exchanged by the two sides raised questions about the electoral process.

He said he also has reservations about the results of the Karachi and general elections.

Commenting on the current political situation, Rehman said the PML-N, PPP and other parties that were a part of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) had lost public confidence.

Read: AJK assembly passes resolution seeking truth commission into recent unrest

Criticising the Punjab government’s performance, he questioned claims calling it a model administration and cited issues including the flour crisis, outsourcing of public schools, and protests by doctors, nurses and teachers.

In the wake of so many issues faced by the people, Rehman said the government’s attempts to stop the party’s planned nationwide protest on August 7 would be unconstitutional, adding that the demonstration would go ahead as scheduled. He said the next phase of the movement would also be announced on the same day.

The JI emir further said that Pakistan faced security and economic crises, adding that the government failed to address both.

He said inflation had become a “major concern” for households, while rising electricity, gas and water charges had further burdened the citizens.

Criticising the recent increase in petroleum prices and levy, Rehman remarked that the government’s own data showed nearly 30 million motorcycles were used by students, labourers and middle-income families, yet additional taxes were being imposed on them.

“Thousands of billions of rupees have been collected through the petroleum levy, including Rs1.9 trillion over the past year,” the JI chief alleged.

He also claimed that more than 40% of Pakistan’s population was living below the poverty line and around 27.5 million children were out of school.

He lamented that higher diesel and petrol prices were adversely affecting farmers, transporters and other sectors of the economy.

Read more: Mushtaq Ahmad announces Kashmir solidarity gathering in Islamabad for Friday

The JI chief said it was the government’s responsibility to revive the economy instead of shifting the financial burden onto the public and urged the authorities to reduce official expenditure, abolish expensive government vehicle grants and end what he described as lavish privileges enjoyed by senior officials and the bureaucracy.

Calling for broad public participation in the August 7 nationwide protest, he urged lawyers, teachers, doctors, students and other professionals to join the demonstrations.

“The protests would be held across the country from Karachi to Khyber, and only ambulances will be allowed to pass through the protest route.”

He reiterated that JI believed in peaceful protests within the framework of the law.

The JI emir said his party did not advocate “political deals” but remained open to dialogue with the government, warning that the protest movement would continue if public grievances remain unresolved.

He also expressed concern over the law-and-order condition in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s southern and border districts.

Rehman called on the government to ensure peace, stability and public security across the country.

He also expressed the party’s solidarity with the Iranian people.

Separately, JI also shared a post on X, where its chief lambasted his political opponents for ignoring the loss of lives in AJK.

“In Kashmir, our citizens are dying, shootouts are happening, and people are falling dead while Maryam and Bilawal are fighting over leftovers thrown at them through Form 47.”