LAHORE: The Jamaat-i-Islami on Thursday put its weight behind the ‘timely’ completion of the Pakistan-Iran Gas Pipeline project and cautioned the United States against meddling in Pakistan’s internal affairs.

This wish and warning came in maiden “Meet the Press” by newly-elected emir Naeemur Rehman here at party’s Mansoora headquarters.

Narrating the significance of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Pakistan, he stressed the need for swift action and implementation of agreements signed between the two neighbouring nations.

Addressing the media, Rehman declared that the JI would pursue the issue of ‘extensive’ election rigging before the Supreme Court, urging the chief justice to recognise it as an unprecedented violation of the basic democratic rights of the people.

New emir wants to pursue rigging issue before SC

The JI would never recognise the governments formed by PML-N, PPP, and MQM on ‘fraudulent’ mandates and would take its case to the top court based on evidence of electoral fraud in Karachi, representing the entire nation of Pakistan.

Reiterating their readiness to collaborate with political parties that share their stance on electoral integrity, he highlighted the impossibility of sustaining a system built on deceitful mandates, leading everyone to a dead end.

The JI, he said, would not engage in electoral alliances with any party but rather align with the people of Pakistan.

He also called for a resolution to the issue of missing persons, emphasising the necessity of subjecting any lawbreakers to due legal process.

Rehman highlighted the need for the reforms in the electoral process, particularly the adoption of electronic voting machines. He advocated for proportional representation to strengthen democracy and dismantle the dominance of traditional power brokers like electables, feudal lords, and other ruling elites.

The JI chief emphasised the urgent need to reassess agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), labelling these contracts as flawed and detrimental to the interests of the people, especially in terms of expensive electricity.

He announced the expansion of the “Bano Qabil” initiative nationwide, with plans to include one million youth in the near future. Addressing the issue of education, he pledged the JI’s commitment to advocating for a uniform education system at all levels.

Highlighting the grievances of the youth and the plight of women under the current governance, particularly in the workforce, he expressed the JI’s readiness to be a voice for both groups, inviting them to join the JI platform.

Rehman rejected trade ties with India until a resolution to the Kashmir issue aligning with the desires of Kashmiri people is achieved. He affirmed the JI’s solidarity with the people of Gaza, honouring their resistance against Israeli occupation. Commending the activism of students in western universities in support of Palestine, he called upon Pakistani students to similarly raise awareness about the Palestinian cause in their universities.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2024