JI to accelerate ‘system change’ movement after Eid

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Friday announced a target of enrolling one million new members in Karachi as part of the party’s nationwide membership drive, beginning from April 25, and said the party would accelerate its “change the system” movement after Eidul Azha. Addressing at a gathering of party office-bearers and elected local government representatives at Idara Noor-i-Haq, he urged workers to intensify grassroots outreach by going door to door and engaging citizens in neighbourhoods, markets, mosques and other public spaces during the next phase of the campaign. He said that despite administrative challenges and limited powers and resources provided by the Sindh government, JI’s local government representatives had fulfilled their commitments and would continue efforts for Karachi’s development and public welfare. Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said the public mandate of Karachi’s residents had been “stolen” in the local government elections, alleging that a mayor from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was installed despite JI securing the highest number of votes. Commenting on the broader political system, he said entrenched elites including feudal landlords, industrialists and bureaucrats had dominated the country for decades, resulting in inadequate access to basic services such as education, healthcare and transport. He stressed the need for systemic reforms rather than merely changing individuals in power. On international affairs, he said the United States and Israel were acting against Muslim countries and called for unity within the Islamic world. JI Karachi Chief, Monem Zafar called on party workers to prepare fully for the membership campaign, saying the party had consistently highlighted urban issues through its “Haq Do Karachi” movement. He cited deteriorating infrastructure, rising street crime and traffic accidents, and neglect of the education sector as key challenges facing the city. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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