Karachi: Jamaat-e-islami (JI) Pakistan supreme leader Engineer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has said that neither provincial status, nor federal control, but an empowered local government is the most viable solution to the woes of Karachi.
The JI Pakistan Ameer said this while addressing a press conference held at Idara Noor-e-Haq-- the JI Karachi headquarters, on Tuesday.
Neither provincial control nor federal control - the solution to Karachi's problems lies only in an empowered city government. "A system of occupation cannot function by disrespecting the people's vote," he said, adding that Karachi's authority should belong only to the citizens of Karachi.
"Today, the people are dissatisfied with the Sindh government; tomorrow, they will raise their voice against the federation, he said while further commenting on the demands for federal control or provincial status.
"Empowered local government systems are successful in all major cities of the world," he said while highlighting that London and New York in the West, and Tehran and Istanbul in the Muslim world, are successful examples of this model. "Even today, the citizens of Karachi call the period from 2001 to 2005 a golden era. Under the leadership of Naimatullah Khan, the city government put Karachi on the right path."
He further said, "Solving Karachi's problems is not possible without an empowered local government."
Addressing Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman reminded the PPP stalwart that Istanbul's municipal government has authority over the master plan, fire brigade, transport, sewerage, water and welfare services, whereas the PPP-led provincial government has taken control of all Karachi institutions.
He said that the people of Karachi elected JI in the local government elections, but through rigging, a PPP mayor was imposed.
'Jamaat-e-Islami will not abandon the people of Karachi,' he added. He announced that Jamaat-e-Islami will hold a grand march titled 'Let Karachi Live' on Shahrah-e-Faisal on February 1, which will generate hope among the youth.
Talking about the Gul Plaza tragedy, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that after the tragedy, there is an atmosphere of despair and helplessness across the country, especially in Karachi. Reports have confirmed that 83 people have lost their lives, and the citizens of Karachi feel that the city has no caretaker. 'Neither the federal government nor the provincial government shows any concern; both are only busy looting Karachi's resources,' he said.
He added that the PPP has been ruling Sindh for the last 17 years, and MQM has remained its coalition partner in almost every tenure. After every tragedy, they engage in political point-scoring instead of solving problems, promoting division and prejudice to keep their politics alive.
He said that land grabbing is at its peak across the city. 'Our demand is that Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah should resign immediately as he has lost all moral justification to remain in the office,' he said.
He highlighted that the Gul Plaza inferno badly exposed the PPP government. It shows that the entire provincial government lacked an effective firefighting system. Firefighters under the KMC-controlled fire brigade do not have complete protective equipment (PPE), special masks, or modern rescue gear, and they have not received proper training for nearly 11 years. He said the provincial government is now trying to take control of the fire brigade as well, reflecting the same occupation-oriented mindset that has prevented Karachi's development.
He said that Karachi's people are destined to fall into open sewers, be swept away in rains, or be crushed under heavy traffic. Dilapidated roads are breaking citizens' bones, projects remain incomplete, and dust and pollution are spreading various diseases.
He said that the K-IV water project, which started in 2005, remains incomplete even in 2026. The KCR, Green Line and Red Line projects have also faced prolonged delays. The Red Line project, which was to be completed in 2024, is still unfinished, and its cost has ballooned from Rs 79 billion to Rs 300 billion. 'These projects have become a source of destruction instead of relief for the people of Karachi,' he said.
He added that Karachi needs at least 15,000 buses, but by running only a few buses, claims are being made that the transport issue has been resolved. 'The Transport Minister Sharjeel Memon is running more advertisements than buses,' he remarked. He said the Karachi Building Control Authority was turned into the Sindh Building Authority, and in the last five years, 100,000 buildings were constructed, of which 85,000 are illegal.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that Karachi drives the economy of the entire country. 'It is Mini-Pakistan, and its development means the development of Pakistan. Freedom from the feudal system is now inevitable,' he asserted.
Talking about the prevailing situation in the global arena and the country's status, he said that Donald Trump's policies are commercial and war-driven. 'We reject Trump's so-called Board of Peace from day one. Pakistan's participation in this board is unacceptable. Trump is a threat to global peace,' he said.
He stated that submission to the US has already caused Pakistan a loss of $150 billion in the past, and returning to the same path again is against national interests. He reiterated that Quaid-e-Azam's policy was clear: Israel should not be recognized at any cost.