JI rejects US pressure, urges trade with Iran

LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has urged the government to reject American pressure and move ahead with independent trade with Iran, including the completion of the long-delayed Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline. Addressing a press conference at Mansoorah, he said Pakistan’s role during the recent Iran-US negotiations was commendable and should be translated into public confidence at home. He demanded that petrol prices be reduced to Rs 250 per litre and announced that Jamaat-e-Islami would challenge the petroleum levy and the privatization of educational institutions in Punjab in court. He also called for the termination or revision of agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), arguing that a review of re-gasified LNG contracts and completion of the Iran gas pipeline could significantly reduce energy costs and help overcome the country’s energy crisis. He stressed that the ruling elite must cut down on their own privileges instead of burdening the public. Rehman appreciated Saudi Arabia’s role in preventing divisions within the Muslim world during recent Gulf tensions and praised Iran’s leadership for its steadfastness. He expressed hope that ceasefire negotiations would succeed. Senior party leaders, including deputy secretaries general Waqar Jafri and Rasool Khan Babar, Lahore Ameer Ziauddin Ansari, and Information Secretary Shakeel Ahmad Turabi, were also present. The JI chief announced that the party would relaunch its membership drive from April 25, aiming to recruit five million members and establish 15, 000 public committees nationwide. He said that after achieving these targets, the party would review its charter of public demands and launch a mass movement for public rights. Criticizing governance in Punjab, he said the agriculture sector was in decline and farmers were not being paid the officially announced wheat support price of Rs3, 500 per maund. He said the provincial government is deceiving farmers and questioned its claims of good governance, pointing out that millions of children remain out of school while thousands of public schools are being handed over to the private sector. He also expressed solidarity with lady health workers, doctors, paramedics, and teachers facing difficulties. Commenting on Sindh, he said the situation was equally alarming, saying that Karachi’s potential had been undermined. He reiterated that power should be transferred only to those elected by the people. On global affairs, Rehman said that the United States and Israel had faced setbacks in their confrontation with Iran and warned that unchecked policies could destabilize the world. He called on Muslim countries, along with China and Russia, to form a united front and urged Pakistan to expand its defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia to include Iran, Turkey, and Gulf states. Later, addressing an online gathering of women workers of the party, he emphasized that the struggle for establishing Islam is obligatory for all Muslims, including women. He appreciated the women’s wing for organizing over 8, 500 Quran study circles during Ramadan and enrolling 800, 000 women as members, terming it a significant achievement. He urged women to expand outreach at the grassroots level, reform personal conduct, and contribute to family and societal development. He set a target of recruiting one million women within a month and stressed the importance of moral upbringing of children amid rising drug abuse in society. The JI chief reiterated that the party would not enter into electoral alliances and would continue its struggle independently, focusing on public service and grassroots mobilization. Dr Humaira Tariq, secretary general of JI women chapter also spoke on occasion. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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