KARACHI: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman on Thursday vowed that his party would continue its struggle for true democracy in the country while contributing to social development and empowerment of youth by utilising all available resources for the welfare of the people.

Addressing “Meet the Press” programme of the Karachi Press Club, the JI chief questioned the role of the “so-called democratic parties” in the ruling coalition and the opposition, who, he claimed, had failed the people of Pakistan by “selling their mandate for short-term gains”.

He said that the ruling parties were afraid and allergic of democracy. “They neither practice democracy within their parties, nor in the assemblies. The 26th and 27th Constitutional Amendments have clearly exposed those forces that hold the Constitution and democracy hostage. Both the amendments are bound to be abolished,” he said.

Hafiz Naeem declared the 27th Amendment unconstitutional and un-Islamic, saying his party completely rejects it.

Hafiz Naeem says his party will not make any electoral alliance

“The exemption granted to the Field Marshal and the President is in no way justified. Even the Rightly Guided Caliphs and Companions presented themselves for accountability before the public and courts. The influential high-ups should come forward and declare that they reject the immunity provided under the 27th Amendment,” he added.

He said that the parties responsible for distorting the Constitution “are dynastic and hereditary, nurtured in the laps of dictators”. “They are all the same,” he added.

He criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for trying to shield a few individuals from judicial accountability, calling the so-called democratic forces “power-hungry” who imposed their will by force.

“It’s an irony that a grandson of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is advocating undemocratic and unconditional amendments in the 1973 Constitution,” added the JI chief.

“We will no more make alliances for any elections,” said Hafiz Naeem. “Secondly we have also decided to do our politics on a two-pronged strategy. One is struggle for true democratic system in the country and second is to contribute to social development and welfare of the people. We will not do the politics of criticism, but play our part for the betterment of the people.”

He then referred to Bano Qabil — an IT courses certification programme launched by the party for youth — as an initiative of the JI launched for the social development and welfare of the people.

He said that the “undemocratic designs” of ruling parties empowered those who sought to gain even more control and privileges.

On Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, Hafiz Naeem urged the Afghan nation and the government to ensure that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism. “Wars never bring peace — diplomacy must be conducted responsibly,” he added.

Warning Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of his “anti-democratic” approach, he said, “A time may come when neither you, nor your cabinet will even have access to a helicopter”.

He urged the government to learn lessons from past dictatorships while referring to the recent political revolution in Bangladesh. “The world is changing — Generation Z is bringing revolutions.”

He also shed light on the education sector in the province. “Despite a Rs613 billion education budget, the condition of schools is deplorable — eight out of nine children fail to reach higher education,” he noted, adding that over 20 million children aged 5-16 remain out of school in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2025