Hafiz Naeem warns govt of action if demands not met

• Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Amir Hafizah Naeem-ur-Rehman said that if the demands of his party were not accepted, his party will initiate a movement to remove the government.

Addressing the protesters at a sit-in in Lahore, Hafiz Naeem said the protests were spreading to other parts of Punjab as well. He said the JI was raising voice against the injustice meted out to the people and will continue its battle till the achievement of its aims.

The movement, he added, wanted to replace the existing system which he said had established a “consortium” of landlords and powerful feudal forces who denied the people their right to govern.

Referring to Defense Day, he said on September 6, people had laid themselves before tanks and protected the country.

Hafiz Naeem stated the national exchequer might save Rs1,500 billion if the interest rate was reduced by three percent.

He recalled Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s commitment to end interest, but it had not been accomplished.

He also denounced bureaucratic perks such lavish official apartments and vehicles with free fuel and said government cars should not be more than 1,300cc.

He said a wheel-jam strike and broader shutdowns would occur if talks failed.

He claimed the JI will begin a movement to bring down the administration if the demands were not satisfied.