JI demands powers, funds for elected representatives
KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi chapter staged a 'protest march' from Khizra Mosque to the Sindh Assembly on Friday, demanding financial and administrative rights for elected local government (LG) representatives.
Hundreds of LG representatives including chairmen, vice-chairmen, and councillors participated in the protest.
Addressing on the occasion, JI Karachi Chief Monem Zafar accused the provincial government of systematically neglecting Karachi. He called for immediate release of Rs500 billion to address the megacity's urgent civic issues. He also demanded Rs2 billion per town and Rs2.5 million monthly for each union council.
He criticised the government for withholding LG funds, despite the 18th Constitutional Amendment, and for favouring nepotism over fair distribution. He highlighted Karachi's critical role in the national economy, contributing 60 percent of the federal tax revenue and 96 percent of Sindh's budget.
Referring to widespread protests across the megacity, particularly in Malir against K-Electric — the JI leader vowed to escalate its 'Karachi Rights Movement' after the Eid.
However, Saifuddin Advocate, leader of the opposition in the city council, alleged that the PPP was a parasite, devouring Sindh's resources. He warned of a province-wide campaign if the government failed to restore LG powers and release funds.
MPA Muhammad Farooq; however, emphasised that the constitution guarantees financial and administrative authority to LG representatives. He accused the Sindh government of violating these provisions. He noted that JI was the sole party opposing recent legislation about appointing bureaucrats as chairmen of educational boards.
Pakistan
Challenging election of Bilawal as MNA: LHC allows petitioner Ashaba to submit documents to remove objections
RECORDER REPORT
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday allowed a petitioner Ashaba Kamran to submit documents to the registrar office to remove the objections raised on her petition challenging election of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as Member National Assembly (MNA).
Earlier, the petitioner's counsel contended that Bilawal at the same time was member of PPP and PPP parliamentary party.
He contended that under the law a person could not become member of two different parties at simultaneously.
He said the registrar office objected that some necessary documents were not attached with the petition.
He, therefore, asked the court to allow him to submit the documents as demanded by the registrar office.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Mega corruption scandal: NAB Lahore recovers Rs2bn
LAHORE: Under the supervision of Director General (DG) NAB Lahore, Ghulam Safdar Shah, the NAB Lahore investigation team has successfully concluded a major recovery of Rs 2 billion in ongoing probe pertaining to a mega corruption scandal involving officers and officials of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Sheikhupura. The DG NAB Lahore formally handed over first installment of the recovered amount to Additional Secretary Finance, Punjab Khalid Mehmood in NAB office, Lahore. According to the details, NAB Lahore launched Inquiry proceedings in September 2024 pertaining to the issuance of bogus cheques worth Rs 5 billion (approx.) by the Officers and staff of the Public Health Engineering and District Accounts Office, Sheikhupura. During the inquiry proceedings, some of the accused persons confessed to their crimes and filed Plea Bargain (PB) requests of Rs2 billion, which were duly approved by the Accountability Court, Lahore. Following court approval, the Bureau succeeded to ensure recovery within a remarkably short period and the initial tranche of the recovered amount has been submitted into the national treasury. On the occasion, DG NAB Lahore commended the exceptional performance of the investigation team, noting that the recovery of looted public funds in such a short time reflects team's commitment and competence. He further stated that investigations are actively underway against other accused persons involved in alleged embezzlement of public funds. Highlighting Chairman NAB's vision, DG Ghulam Safdar Shah emphasized that providing immediate relief to common citizens is NAB's top priority, however, all possible measures are being taken towards this end. He added that in order to recover and distribute the looted amounts to the rightful victims, the process of auctioning-off seized properties of the accused persons has been initiated. In this regard, a public auction of valuable confiscated properties was held at Deputy Commissioner Office, Lahore. However, the auction of seized assets will continue as per given schedule in other districts, as well. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business Recorder
SC's ruling on reserved seats strengthens hybrid system: JI
LAHORE: Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has said that the Supreme Court's ruling on reserved seats has further strengthened the hybrid system, depriving people of their democratic rights. 'The verdict is regrettable and based on a flawed interpretation of the Constitution,' he said in a statement issued from Mansoora on Sunday. The decision of constitutional bench, he said, has once again raised serious questions about the credibility of the judicial system. He added that the 26th Constitutional Amendment allowed powerful quarters to bring the judiciary under complete control. 'Ruling elites are now using courts to get favorable decisions. Jamaat-e-Islami had vehemently opposed the 26th Amendment and outrightly rejected it, while some opposition parties became a part of it.' The JI leader said had the opposition taken a principled stand, at least some credibility of the courts might have been preserved. Commenting on the implications of the verdict, he said it remains to be seen how both the government and opposition parties respond. 'Will they accept PTI's rightful seats as spoils of war or adopt a moral, principled, and democratic position by refusing to take them?' he asked. He remarked that for Pakistan's so-called political parties, democracy is nothing more than a tool for personal gain. 'Political parties must correct their direction and prioritize democratic values over personal interests. Only then can rule of law and constitutional supremacy be established in the country,' he stated. He emphasized that the people themselves must now rise for their rights through peaceful resistance—and that Jamaat-e-Islami offers the most credible platform for such a struggle. Meanwhile, Rehman expressed deep sorrow over the tragic drowning of tourists in the Swat River and extended condolences to the bereaved families. He criticized the government for failing to respond in time, saying, 'Authorities watched helplessly on TV as children and women were swept away by the current. A helicopter could have reached them from Islamabad in just 30 minutes—or even less from Peshawar. But while the ruling elite can immediately deploy helicopters and jets for personal use, the citizens of this country are left to die without help.' He held the ruling class responsible for monopolizing national resources and failing to provide even basic facilities to the common man. 'The people have been abandoned. The government has failed to protect lives,' he said. He pointed out that the PTI has been in power in KP for over 13 years, yet the Swat tragedy once again exposed its incompetence. He demanded that all illegal encroachments — especially those on riverbanks—and unauthorized hotels in tourist areas must be immediately removed to prevent future disasters. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business Recorder
‘JI will resist compromise on Kashmir'
RECORDER REPORT: Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman has said that if the government and the establishment compromise on Kashmir to appease Trump, the nation will resist. He said the govt & opposition are engaged in politics of personal gain rather than principles and both come together like close allies when it comes to serving their own interests. He said they are united on Bajwa's extension & on increasing their own salaries. In Karachi, establishment prevented JI from having its mayor elected & imposed PPP mayor instead, he said. Those who trade Kashmir for business and dollars will be made a lesson by the nation, he said and added despite being repeatedly deceived by India, the rulers continue to fall for its traps. Hafiz Naeemur Rehman expressed these views during the concluding address at a training session for party workers from Sheikhupura and Nankana districts, held at Mansoorah, Lahore. He said the American stooges have halted work on the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline, while Iran has already completed its part. Had the rulers truly cared about the people's hardships, the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline would have been completed by now, and oil would also be imported from Iran, he said. Hafiz Naeemur Rehman stated that mega corruption scandals have already emerged in KP and Punjab, while Sindh has long been self-sufficient in corruption. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the PTI government is in its 12th year, yet there is still no proper rescue system for those who drown in the Swat River. Politics has been hijacked by feudal lords, landlords, and capitalists. They come to power with the support of the establishment, and when they lose power, they start criticizing it, he elaborated. He said that Pakistan is facing a governance crisis. The entire judicial system is held hostage. Fake verdicts are obtained from the Supreme Court to serve political interests. Through a shameful decision, the Supreme Court distributed reserved seats among the ruling alliance, even though those seats rightfully belonged to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), he said. Now it remains to be seen whether those who talk about principled politics will accept these seats or not, he added. He added that Jamaat-e-Islami's mandate was stolen in the general elections. Several of their won seats were given to other parties. The mayorship of Karachi was also stolen, said Hafiz Naeemur Rehman. He added that Syed Ali Geelani endured imprisonment and hardships for the freedom of Kashmir and spent his entire life fighting Pakistan's cause, yet our rulers never gave him the recognition he truly deserved. He stated that our ruling elite is afraid that if the real heroes are brought to light, there will be no place left for the fake ones. He further said that Emir Jamaat-e-Islami in Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Abdul Hameed Fayaz, Asiya Andrabi, her ailing husband Qasim Faktoo, Yasin Malik, the ailing Shabir Shah, and hundreds of other leaders of the freedom movement have been imprisoned in Indian jails for years. Yet, the government of Pakistan is not raising their plight on any forum, which is not only regrettable but also condemnable, he concluded. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
