By our correspondent
KARACHI: The Let Karachi Live march has given the final warning against ongoing injustices in the city, as Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Ameer Engr. Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced an indefinite sit-in outside the Sindh Assembly, starting February 14, until all demands for an empowered local government and accountability are met.
The march, held on Shahrah-e-Faisal, saw participation from tens of thousands of Karachiites, including women, children, senior citizens, JI workers, social activists, political figures, and representatives from traders, lawyers, and other professional associations. The protest came in the wake of the Gul Plaza tragedy, which claimed over 80 lives, highlighting the perceived failures of the provincial government in ensuring citizens’ safety.
During his address, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman criticized the PPP and PML-N as dynastic parties with no real commitment to democracy, urging the removal of such undemocratic forces from power. He emphasized that Karachi’s issues—including water, sewerage, sanitation, and civic governance—can only be addressed through an empowered local government system with full financial and administrative authority, rather than provincial or federal control.
The JI chief also criticized national leaders, questioning why President Zardari, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif never visited the site of the Gul Plaza tragedy despite Karachi contributing 42 percent of taxes and 54 percent of export revenue. He further denounced the construction of thousands of illegal buildings without approval from the Sindh Building Control Authority, attributing systemic corruption to top leadership.
He warned that injustice breeds public anger, which is often exploited by hostile forces, citing unrest in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as examples. Hafiz Naeemur Rehman confirmed that Ramadan prayers and sit-ins will continue as part of the ongoing struggle for Karachi’s rights.
JI Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar Khan reiterated the message, stating that millions on Shahrah-e-Faisal had clearly expressed that Karachiites will not compromise on their constitutional rights or their right to live with dignity.
Other key speakers included JI Karachi Deputy Ameer and KMC Opposition Leader Saifuddin Advocate, JI Sindh Assembly member Muhammad Farooq, Deputy Ameer Karachi and CEO Alkhidmat Naveed Ali Baig, Karachi Traders Alliance leader Ateeq Mir, and JI Minority Wing President Younas Sohan Advocate. The event was moderated by JI Karachi Secretary Taufiq-ud-Din Siddiqui.
Participants strongly condemned the 18-year rule of the Sindh government, calling it incompetent and corrupt, and demanded accountability for the Gul Plaza incident. They criticized the absence of fire brigades, emergency services, and disaster management during the tragedy, accusing authorities of abandoning the citizens of Karachi.
The march concluded with a firm declaration: the people of Karachi will continue their struggle until they reclaim their constitutional rights and secure the right to live with dignity.
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