PESHAWAR: Jamaat-i-Islami central emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to do away with their aggressive rhetoric towards each other and resolve bilateral issues through dialogue.

“Our region is on the brink of violence, so Pakistani rulers should avoid adventurism in Afghanistan, while the Taliban government should exercise restraint,” Mr Rehman told a party gathering late on Monday.

The JI chief alleged that Afghan soil was being used for terrorist activities in Pakistan. He advocated for dialogue between Islamabad and Kabul saying it is the only solution to issues.

Warns party will march on Islamabad if govt fails to provide people with relief from inflation, taxes

Mr Rehman complained about unrest in Balochistan and urged the government to formally speak to the Baloch people to address their grievances. “Balochistan is burning in the fires of hate,” he said, adding that women are taking to the streets in the province on their own to highlight their issues for resolution.

The JI chief said there must be underlying reasons for the discontent of Baloch women. He said scores of people from the province had gone missing in the last several years.

“Authorities should engage credible people and initiate a fresh dialogue with the Baloch,” he said.

Mr Rehman said the current Balochistan leadership came to power through rigged elections and therefore, the locals were unwilling to listen to it. He urged the government to revisit its policies and engage in meaningful dialogue with the Baloch people.

The JI emir criticised India for revoking the special status of the occupied Kashmir and insisted that the Modi government did it with Islamabad’s “understanding.” He demanded the trial of those who betrayed the nation.

Mr Rehman said his party would continue staging protests, sit-ins and public outreach across the country to force the government into providing the promised relief from record inflation and heavy taxes to the people within 45 days.

He warned that if rulers didn’t fulfil their agreement with his party’s leadership on the matter, a call would be given for a long march on Islamabad and a sit-in at D-Chowk.

The JI emir said his party recently took to the streets to fight for the rights of the people suffering from the economic crisis. “Heavy taxes, excessive power cuts and exorbitant utility bills have virtually made life hell for people,” he said.

Mr Rehman rejected the Federal Board of Revenue’s Tajir Dost Scheme and insisted that the party wasn’t opposed to the expansion of the tax base and collection of more revenue but doing that by dubious means was unacceptable.

Mr Rehman complained against independent power producers functioning in the country and urged the government to renegotiate agreements with them, shut down outdated power plants producing little electricity, and avoid renewing agreements with IPPs, whose contracts had expired.

He also called for a forensic audit of the government’s deals with power producers.

The JI emir blamed the government of all political parties for the IPP crisis, insisting that a couple of politicians made those deals on unfair terms for power production after coming to power.

He criticised the PTI, PPP and PML-N over “failure” to resolve the IPP issue.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2024