Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has demanded that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif answer how he allegedly won on the basis of 70,000 fake votes and who facilitated his entry into the National Assembly.
Addressing a press conference in Mansoorah, Lahore, Naeemur Rehman said the current government is formed on the basis of Form 47, and Nawaz Sharif should speak based on facts. He questioned why, if Sharif truly had differences with the establishment, he still came to power and cooperated with it to allegedly undermine democracy.
The JI leader criticized the Pakistan Muslim League-N for reportedly alternating between criticizing and praising the establishment based on political convenience. He called for accountability over the respect accorded to votes.
Commenting on JI’s activities, Naeemur Rehman described a three-day public gathering as highly successful and said that city leaders have formulated a roadmap for the “Badal Do Nizam” (Change the System) movement. He condemned the 27th constitutional amendment, calling it an attack on the constitution’s basic structure.
Naeemur Rehman also criticized the electoral process, saying governments are formed alternately via RTS or Form 47, and accused bureaucracy of operating in a colonial-style hierarchy, fostering corruption, and withholding authority from local levels.
He condemned political dynasties for fearing their own workers, passing laws against public interest. Highlighting the new local government law, he labeled it “black legislation” and vowed to challenge it in courts and through street protests. A plan has been prepared to restore local government powers, with protests scheduled across Punjab on December 7 and 8.
The JI chief further criticized the curtailment of metropolitan and district council powers, noting that education, policing, and essential administrative functions are typically handled by local governments globally, but Pakistan continues to deny such authority.
Naeemur Rehman also raised concerns over extrajudicial killings and the spread of drugs in Punjab, alleging government patronage of drug mafias. On foreign policy, he advocated for an independent stance, warning against yielding to U.S. pressure or engaging in political flattery.
He highlighted the country’s education crisis, noting that 88% of the population lacks higher education and over 30 million children aged 5–15 are out of school. Universities lag in global rankings, and the education system remains restricted to a privileged few.
The JI chief criticized the Sindh government for corruption in Karachi, lawlessness in the province, and cited water and electricity crises in Balochistan, emphasizing the party’s ongoing efforts to advance its agenda nationwide.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman concluded that Jamaat-e-Islami will continue advocating for peace, civic facilities, local government rights, and constitutional governance. He stressed that the party will use all democratic means, including large sit-ins and assembly protests, to advance the “Badal Do Nizam” movement.
