JI denounces ban on PTM – Pakistan

LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has denounced the ban on the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) as unjust and illegal and condemned the KP police attack on a PTM rally that resulted in the death of three demonstrators.

On Thursday, during a press conference in Mansoora, he held the KP government responsible for this. He expressed hope that the All Parties Conference convened by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to discuss the issue would be helpful in resolving the issue.

He stressed that every individual and party has a constitutional right to hold peaceful protests, but warned that no one should raise anti-Pakistani slogans.

“Pakistan was achieved through the struggle of millions of Muslims in this region and the nation cannot tolerate an anti-Pakistani narrative,” he added.

He praised progress on agreements with IPPs, referring to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement on the termination of five IPP agreements. He said the end of these agreements would benefit the national exchequer by Rs411 billion, and urged that this financial relief would directly translate into a reduction in power tariffs for the public.

He also called for termination of all agreements with IPPs and requested imposition of taxes on feudal lords, criticizing CM Maryam’s statement in which she called small farmers ‘mafia’.

Rehman condemned Maryam’s statement advocating “environmental diplomacy” with India, saying she should focus on her role as prime minister and not engage in diplomacy.

He said the people of Pakistan cannot tolerate trade or diplomatic ties with India as long as the country continues to oppress the people of Kashmir.

He reiterated JI’s rejection of the proposed constitutional amendment in the current political environment, but noted that discussions on the issue could take place after the retirement of Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa.

Published in Dawn, October 11, 2024