The JI leader said branding political opponents as traitors had persisted from the country’s first martial law to the present, deepening political divisions and fueling disputes
By our correspondent
KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has rejected attempts to question his party’s patriotism and called for an end to the practice of branding political opponents as traitors.
Addressing a protest in Lahore against the petroleum levy, Hafiz Naeem said no political party had the right to issue certificates of patriotism or treason to its opponents. “Let no one teach us patriotism. Stop handing out certificates of treason,” he said.
The JI leader said the practice of labelling political opponents as traitors had continued from the country’s first martial law to the present day. He argued that such accusations had been used repeatedly in political disputes and had contributed to divisions in the country.
Hafiz Naeem also criticized former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, accusing him of damaging the country and undermining democracy. He also questioned the conduct of previous general elections, referring to controversies surrounding the 2018 and 2024 polls.
The JI chief said the 2024 election had been based on Form 47, while the 2018 election had been affected by the collapse of the Result Transmission System, or RTS. He said his party would continue its political struggle and seek to build public opinion in favor of fundamental changes to Pakistan’s political and judicial systems.
“The existing system cannot provide justice to the people,” Hafiz Naeem said, pointing to a backlog of about 2.4 million cases in courts across the country. He said the Jamaat-e-Islami had filed a petition before a constitutional court two months earlier and would not seek to enter government through what he described as Form 47.
“We will bring down this system with the support of the people,” he said, adding that the party’s campaign would remain organized and disciplined. He said the JI wanted to bring political change through public opinion rather than relying solely on electoral arrangements or alliances with established political families.
Hafiz Naeem said his party was working to replace the existing political system in accordance with its political and ideological principles. He said the JI had not entered politics to protect any particular family.
