For sale political parties, establishment responsible for failure of democracy: Hafiz Naeemur Rehman
KARACHI, Nov 15 (SABAH): Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Engineer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has held “for sale” political parties and the military establishment responsible for the failure of democracy in Pakistan.
Engineer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman expressed these views while addressing a “Meet the Press” program, hosted by the Karachi Press Club at its premises, on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion, he dubbed the violated democratic process as a circus that has been staged in the country for the past 76 years. He further said that the establishment uses the political parties like tissue papers when the so-called parties place themselves “for sale”.
Such political parties demand ‘respect for vote’ when they face hot waters and dance to the tune of the establishment when provided with the first opportunity, said the JI leader. Dissecting the so-called main stream political parties, he dubbed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, the Pakistan People Party and other segments as political dynasties and not democratic parties. None other than the family can become a head in such parties, how can they enlist themselves as political parties, he said, adding that intra-party elections are not held in these parties.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman also shed light in detail on the modus operandi of the Senate, the general and the local bodies’ elections, the scope of awarding tickets and the open markets of conscience specially erected at the selected time. He said that political parties should distanced themselves from any such market and process that is a taboo for democracy. The JI leader further said that the establishment had announced to take action against “the system” and corruption but no action has been taken so far and all went in vein. He said that feudal lords have been enjoying rule over masses with the help of so called political parties. The feudal lords don’t pay tax but they decide the future of masses, he expressed sorrow over the situation. To further elaborate his viewpoint, he highlighted that the tax collection from agricultural land clocked in at Rs 4 billion as compare to Rs 264 billion collected as tax from the salaried class.
In this background and political landscape, he said, the JI has become the only hope for serious political quarters and the nation. The JI has been representing the lower and middle classes in the country, he said, adding that the JI is the only party available which not only believes but exercise democracy.
Talking about the role of the media, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman hailed the Karachi Press Club for their initiatives to express solidarity with Hamas against occupation forces. On the occasion, he lambasted the Muslim world leaders over their psychopath and selfish approach towards the issue of Palestine. He said that the OIC has lost the logical grounds for its existence and the Muslim world leaders have made a new low.