Sirajul Haq says mayor election not about PPP vs JI — it is PPP vs Karachiites
KARACHI, June 11 (SABAH): The Save Karachi March — taken out on Sunday as part of countrywide protest against attempts to manipulate mayoral election in Karachi by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) — warned the Sindh government that Karachiites won’t compromise on their mandate so the regime needs to mend its ways.
Tens of thousands of Karachiites took to Sharah-e-Quaideen in protest against the fascist tactics by the Pakistan People’s Party to bulldoze the mandate of the citizens as the ruling regime in Sindh resorted to arrest elected chairmen of union councils, belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The crackdown in Karachi was moved from May 9 mayhem to elected chairmen under political motives after the party announced unconditional support for JI Karachi Chief Engineer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman in the mayoral elections.
A large number of political and social activists, social media influencers, JI workers and people belonging to all walks of life joined the march. Participants, carrying placards and banners, chanted slogans against the PPP’s fascist design to capture the mega city.
In his address, Emir Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Sirajul Haq said that the ruling elite in the country did only disservice to the country. The said class looted each and every institution and sector of the country and now they are aiming at ballot box, he said, adding that the elite ruling class needs to know that the time has change and they will have to face an unprecedented resistance.
The JI supremo said that the upcoming mayor election in Karachi is not about a contest between the PPP and the JI — it is contest between the PPP and Karachiites.
He pleaded PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari to uphold democratic norms, values and principles by accepting the mandate of 35 million Karachiites. Otherwise, he warned the PPP leadership of a resistance movement across the country and the JI is not going to let the city put on the mercy of the PPP. He said that the JI has a proven record of progress and development in the city and other parts of the country. He further said that the JI’s credibility has also been acknowledged on international forums and by international institutions, working closely with the JI.
Sirajul Haq once again warned the PPP government to abide by the rules and regulations and avoid any attempt to snatch the mandate of the JI — otherwise, he said, the party will leave no stone unturned in struggle for the securing its mandate. He also emphasized to transform the political system in the country from the bases of feudalism and elitism to the bases of social justice. He said that the Islamic values of politics not only ensures a welfare state for its citizens but also for other creatures as well.
Sirajul Haq said that a mayor of Jamaat-e-Islami would be selected on June 15 and added they wanted to make it clear that if mandate of Karachi was snatched, the entire country would support Karachiites in obtaining their due right.
He said, “We want to make to make it clear that ballot boxes could be stolen but opinion of people of Karachi could not be changed. Former president Asif Ali Zardari is of the claim that he believes in democracy. We expect him to accept mandate of people of Karachi as they have used Returning Officers (ROs) and Election Commission to all possible extents.”
He went on to say, “Asif Ali Zardari should ask the government of Sindh that it needed to accept the mandate of Jamaat-e-Islami in Karachi and leaving undemocratic behaviour in mayor’s elections. Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) obtained 900,000 votes while PPP bagged only 300,000 votes in the city which is why not accepting mandate of people of Karachi is against the democracy.”
Addressing on the occasion, Secretary General Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Ameerul Azim said that Engineer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman is not blue eyed of Karachi but all Pakistanis, adding his supporters from Karachi to Peshawar are present.
While directly referring to Asif Ali Zardari, he said, “Listen Hafiz Naeemur Rehman is not a corrupt person who doesn’t believe in kickbacks and corruption but an honest and a servant of people. He is a real representative of people.”
Jamaat-e-Islami Sindh Emir Muhammad Hussain Mehnati in his address said that the city has been going through one of the worst phases of its history. The PPP regime ruling in Sindh has ruined the infrastructure in the city.
The entire Sindh province has been ruined, he said, adding that people across Sindh are looking to the activism of Karachiites against the PPP with hope and positivity. He further said that people across the province have held protests against PPP in solidarity with the Karachi and Karachiites.
JI Karachi Chief Engineer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman in his address said that since the PPP realized its imminent humiliation in the local government elections in the mega city, the party was trying its level best to avoid holding the polls. He further said that it was the continuous pursuit by the JI that compelled the PPP government in Sindh to hold the elections.
From this point, he maintained, the PPP opened another chapter of fascism, undemocratic and anti-people tactics to please its feudal mindset by naked attempts to snatch the mandate of Karachiites. Unfortunately, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) played the role of A team for the PPP when it comes to post-poll rigging, he said.
The JI stalwart made it clear that the Karachiites would not let the PPP snatch their mandate and the JI will use all constitutional and democratic options against the ruling party.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that the PPP is hated in Karachi because of the feudal and fascist designs the PPP used to usurp the rights of Karachiites.
Meanwhile, Emir JI Sirajul Haq has expressed condolences with the heirs of those who met property or life losses in the aftermath of rainstorms and windstorms in the different parts of the country on Saturday.
In a statement issued from Mansoorah, he prayed for the departed souls as well as their forgiveness by Allah Almighty. He also sympathized and prayed for soon recovery of those who got injured during the rainstorms and windstorms in the country.
Sirajul Haq demanded of the government to compensate the losses of those who got affected during the recent rash rains that the victims should be provided with the financial assistance.
He also directed the workers of Jamaat-e-Islami and Alkhidmat Foundation Pakistan to actively participate in aid and relief activities going on for the victims.
According to information, till now 30 individuals died in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab whereas more than 100 persons got injured caused by recent rainstorms and windstorms.