LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami Emir HafizNaeemur Rehmanhas decried the irony of political parties, which are operating as family enterprises while championing democracy.

Addressing the Lahore High Court Bar Association on Thursday, he emphasised the importance of intra-party democracy, local government empowerment, the restoration of student and trade unions, and electoral reforms to strengthen democracy in Pakistan and stressed the shared value of regular elections between lawyers` organisations and the Jamaat-i-Islami.

Inviting lawyers to join the JI in its struggle for the supremacy of law and rights of the people, he said the ruling parties (PML-N, PPP and MQM) have nothing to do with democracy. He issued a stern warning to the ruling elite to address public concerns or face the people`s wrath. He asserted that this time, the people would not allow the rul-ers to escape abroad.

He warned if public grievances were not promptly addressed, Pakistan could face a crisis similar to Kenya`s. He said the ruling elite was exploiting the nation`s resources and depriving the public of basic facilities like education, employment, and healthcare. He criticised the government for imposing heavy taxes on the poor at the behest of the IMF and highlighted the social insecurity driving the youth to move out of the country. He demanded that the ruling elite make sacrifices and prioritise public welfare over personal gain, stressing that the people are asserting their rights, not seeking charity.

The JI chief also called for the inclusion of feudal lords in the tax net and proposed land reforms. He underscored the potential of Pakistan`s IT sector, criticising the government for neglecting it. He mentioned Jamaat-i-Islami`s BanoQabil Programme aimed at fostering IT expertise.

Advocating for judicial reforms, he highlighted the backlog of cases in the judiciary and the common man`s struggle for justice, calling for merit-based appointments of judges in the top judiciary.

He stated that the country`s problems require solutions based on the results declared on Form 45. He claimed that those in assemblies came to power through Form 47 and electoral fraud, lacking legitimacy to decide the nation`s future. He demanded a judicial commission to investigate electoral rigging.

He rejected the government`s decision to launch Operation Azm-iIstehkam, emphasising that the pe ople of Pakistan, especially in KP and Balochistan, can no longer afford military operations.

He said the country needs political stability rather than military interventions.-Staff Reporter