MANSEHRA: Jamaat-i-Islami central emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Monday said the government should release ‘political prisoners’ across the country.

“The government must release all those arrested on political grounds and refrain from targeting its rivals through courts,” Mr Rehman told a news conference after leading the party’s workers’ convention here.

JI Hazara division emir Abdul Razzaq Abbasi and information secretary Syed Gayasuddin Shah were also present.

Mr Rehman said that Jamaat-i-Islami had granted the Hazara division the status of a province in its internal organisational structure and the federal and provincial governments should legislate to formally declare Hazara a separate federating unit.

“It is high time that legislation should be introduced to give Hazara the constitutional status of a province,” he said.

The JI emir also expressed strong opposition to a proposed military operation in Bajaur, stating that a fresh military strategy would not be the solution to rising militancy in the country.

“We have already lost over $150 billion due to terrorism and military operations since 2001. Another military operation will only worsen the situation,” he remarked.

He criticised the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government in the province for failing to address fundamental public issues and complained the alarming number of local children are out of school.

“Over 5.5 million children are still out of school in this province,” he said.

The JI emir also lamented the poor state of local governments across the country, particularly in KP.

“Though local governments have been deprived of funds across Pakistan, the situation in KP is far worse. Both public representatives and citizens have been bearing the consequences,” he said.

Mr Rehman said his party would continue its struggle for reduction in electricity tariff.

“Our campaign for lowering electricity bills will continue until real relief is provided to the public,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2025