JI launches ‘Farmers’ March’ from Mandi Bahauddin today

ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced the launch of a “Farmers’ March” starting from Mandi Bahauddin on December 25 to advocate for the rights of small farmers and expand the movement nationwide.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, the JI top leader said that no political party other than JI prioritized issues related to agriculture and small-scale farmers. Naeemur Rehman also announced a “Palestine Solidarity Million March” to be held in Islamabad on December 29 urging the public to participate wholeheartedly in support of the Palestinian cause. He issued warning to the government against rising electricity bills, saying that the JI would only tolerate the situation until the end of winter. “Decrease the power tariffs or get ready to face the protest movement in next couple of months.” He credited JI’s movement for pushing the government to initiate negotiations with IPPs, despite earlier claims that IPP contracts were untouchable.

Welcoming ongoing negotiations between the government and PTI, he urged both sides to make decisions in the best interest of the nation. He stressed the inclusion of Form-45 in PTI’s agenda and demanded the formation of a judicial commission to address electoral irregularities. He also criticized government’s policy resulting slow internet speed, saying that poor connectivity and slow speeds are affecting the livelihoods of millions of youth.

Highlighting security concerns, he said the deteriorating situation in Kurram and Balochistan requires immediate attention. “Operations are not a solution; these issues should be resolved through dialogue involving federal and provincial governments,” he said. He also called for dialogue between Islamabad and Kabul for peace in region. He said the US is supporting Israeli terrorism and cited historical examples like Hiroshima and Nagasaki to highlight America’s destructive policies. He called on Arab and Islamic countries to take concrete steps in support of Gaza rather than fearing US influence.

The JI chief welcomed the Syrian interim government’s progress and its general amnesty but stressed the need for more efforts to establish peace. He condemned atrocities committed by former Syrian leaders Hafiz al-Assad and Bashar al-Assad, expressing hope for a stable Syria free of foreign proxies. Naeemur Rehman criticized the state of economy, blaming the elite class for the financial woes. He highlighted JI’s commitment to systemic change, advocating for the protection of public rights and supremacy of the Constitution. JI central Naib Ameer Mian Muhammad Aslam and Islamabad Ameer Nasrullah Randhawa were also present on the occasion.