Karachi: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Pakistan Emir Engineer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has said that US President Donald Trump has pushed his country to diplomatic isolation in the global arena, whereas the president has lost both credibility and popularity in his own country.
The JI supreme leader expressed these views while addressing a press conference, held at Idara Noor-e-Haq, the JI Karachi headquarters, here on Thursday. Speaking on the evolving regional situation, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman praised Iran's leadership and people for what he described as steadfastness in difficult circumstances, saying they had challenged the arrogance of global powers.
He termed Pakistan's diplomatic efforts to facilitate negotiations between Iran and the United States as commendable, while highlighting that Washington's conduct has historically been marked by deception.
Criticising US president Donald Trump, the JI chief said his statements and claims had proven contrary to ground realities, adding that the US itself had now been compelled to engage in negotiations. He asserted that Washington's global credibility had been undermined and that questions were being raised about its role in Europe, NATO and Gulf countries.
He endorsed Iran's stance that no agreement would be possible unless the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz was lifted. He also appreciated Saudi Arabia's restraint and proposed the formation of a joint defence bloc comprising Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Turkey to strengthen the Muslim world.
On domestic issues, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said the current system benefited the elite, while ordinary citizens were burdened by inflation and taxes. He criticised levies included in electricity bills, including the PHL tax, as well as the petroleum development levy, calling them unjust and lacking transparency. He warned that the party would approach the courts if these matters were not addressed.
He also called for the complete termination of agreements with independent power producers (IPPs), alleging that payments were being made even for unused electricity. Similarly, he criticised LNG terminal arrangements, claiming that large sums were being paid from the national exchequer despite inactivity, which he termed against national interest.
Highlighting issues in education and health, he said millions of children in Pakistan were out of school, while policies to outsource educational institutions were being pursued. He also expressed concern over recent judicial amendments, the weakening of local governments and delays in local body elections, terming them detrimental to the democratic process.
The JI emir announced that the party would launch a nationwide membership drive from April 25, which would be accelerated after Eid, describing it as the largest campaign in the country's history.
Commenting on Karachi, he said ongoing development projects in the city had become examples of mismanagement and corruption. He particularly criticised the condition of University Road, calling it a 'global embarrassment,' and said several multi-billion-rupee projects were suffering from delays and poor performance.
He also took aim at PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, saying his politics was limited to claims, while Karachi's situation exposed his performance. He said that political parties were engaged in mutual accommodation at the expense of public issues.
He concluded by reiterating that Jamaat-i-Islami would continue its struggle for meaningful change and raise its voice on all forums to address public concerns.