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Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announces sit-in outside Sindh Assembly on Feb 14 till acceptance of demands

Karachi: The Let Karachi Live march has given the final heads up against injustice, being endured by Karachiites, as Jamaat-e-islami (JI) Pakistan Ameer Engineer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced another indefinite sit-in protest to be held outside the Sindh Assembly building with effect from February 14.In the backdrop of Gul Plaza Tragedy, tens of thousands of Karachiites, including women, children and senior citizens, marched on Shahrah-e-Faisal, on Sunday, to record their anguish over the PPP government that resulted in over 80 deaths.Besides JI workers, a large number of social and political workers irrespective of their affiliation, in addition to representatives from traders, lawyers and other fraternities participated in the march.In his presidential address, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman warned the Chief Minister and the 'imposed mayor' to either relinquish control themselves or be ousted by Generation Z, declaring that the system of occupation would no longer be tolerated.He said that the Feb 14 sit in would continue till acceptance of all the due demands. He said promises made during previous sit-ins were not fulfilled, and demanded that civic institutions including Sindh Solid Waste Management Board and the Water Corporation be handed over to a fully empowered city government.He emphasized that neither the federation nor the province would be allowed to control Karachi, and that under the Constitution, the city must be given an empowered local government with full financial and administrative authority.Hafiz Naeemur Rehman stated that the people of Pakistan do not want a monarchic system or dynastic rule, and that empowered local governments must be established in all provinces.He criticized PML-N and PPP as parties run on family inheritance and nomination, saying they have no real connection with democracy. He demanded the removal of these undemocratic forces. He further said that the two dynasties should not be mistaken as political parties.Further talking about the Gul Plaza tragedy, he questio ned why President Zardari, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif never visited the site, despite Karachi contributing 42% of taxes and 54% of export revenue.He questioned how thousands of illegal buildings were constructed without the approval of the Sindh Building Control Authority, calling the entire system corrupt and traceable to the top leadership.Hafiz Naeemur Rehman further said that town and union council representatives must be given authority over water, sewerage, and sanitation. He made it clear that an empowered local government system, not provincial status or federal control will solve the burning issues of Karachi.He announced that the struggle for justice would continue during Ramadan, including prayers and sit-ins, until Karachi's rights are secured.Talking about the unrest in the society, he said injustice birth anguish and enemy forces take advantage of this angeras they have taken in Balochistan and KPK.JI Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar Khan, addressing the march, said that millions gathered on Shahrah-e-Faisal had declared that no compromise would be made on Karachi's rights, particularly their right to live with dignity and that the people would take their rights at any cost.Other speakers at the march included JI Karachi Deputy Ameer and Opposition Leader KMC Saifuddin Advocate, JI Sindh Assembly member Muhammad Farooq, Deputy Ameer Karachi and CEO Alkhidmat Karachi Naveed Ali Baig, Karachi Traders Alliance leader Ateeq Mir, and JI Minority Wing President Younas Sohan Advocate. The event was moderated by JI Karachi Secretary Taufiq-ud-Din Siddiqui.Speakers strongly condemned the Sindh government's 18-year rule, calling it incompetent and corrupt, and demanded accountability for the Gul Plaza tragedy in which over 88 people were burnt alive. They questioned the absence of fire brigade resources, emergency services, and disaster management authorities, and accused the government of abandoning Karachi's citizens.The march concluded with a clear message: Karachi's people will continue this movement and struggle until they reclaim their constitutional rights and the right to live with dignity.