In Karachi, on Thursday, Jamaat-i-Islami leader Sirajul Haq labeled the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as “puppets of the international establishment.” He urged the citizens of Karachi to reject their politics of corruption and nepotism in the upcoming February 8 elections. Emphasizing that the city had endured significant hardships due to the incompetence and dishonesty of these parties, he called on the people to seek an alternative path.
Speaking at a JI convention, the party leader, in his inaugural address for the party’s election campaign in Karachi, explicitly mentioned the leaders of the two parties and their ally Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan. He accused them of purposefully neglecting Karachi and engaging in politics centered on animosity and division. However, he chose not to criticize the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and its founder, who governed the country from 2018 to 2022.
He referred to PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as a ‘prince’ who considers himself an ideal candidate for the premiership solely based on his family connections. According to him, this familial background was the only merit the former foreign minister relied on for his election campaign. “A prince asserts that he is the rightful choice for the prime ministerial role because his grandfather [Zulfikar Ali Bhutto] and his mother [Benazir Bhutto] held the position, and his father [Asif Ali Zardari] served as the president of the country,” he remarked.
He pledges to pardon all adversaries should he assume power. However, Bilawal Sahib, let it be known that the people of Karachi and Pakistan will not forgive you and your party for the corruption and exploitation that has transpired over the past 15 years,” added the JI leader.
He urged the residents of Karachi to seek retribution for all injustices and exploitation inflicted upon their city by casting their votes on February 8 against the politics of ‘family enterprises and corruption.’
“Let’s bury their political practices and restore the lost glory of Karachi, providing the people of the city with a renewed sense of hope. Reject all those who have deprived you of your rights and dreams over the last 15 years,” added Mr. Haq.
Earlier, the JI Karachi chief, Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, outlined JI’s ambitious program, which included rectifying population count discrepancies in Karachi, empowering youth and women, and providing top-notch transport and health facilities under the party’s manifesto.
“If elected in the February 8 general elections, we will implement our party’s manifesto, particularly focusing on Karachi. We aim to transform Karachi into a safe city, equipping the police with the latest technology, and ensuring that police recruitment is solely based on merit,” he asserted.
He vowed to revive the Karachi Circular Railway, transform bus rapid transit lines into a light train project, and initiate a women empowerment program. This program would include dedicated transport for women, entrepreneurial opportunities for housewives, and the establishment of neighborhood committees specifically addressing women’s issues.
