Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan will launch a four-day public referendum from Thursday (January 15) to gauge public opinion on the Punjab Local Government Act, JI Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman announced on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman said that an independent and transparent referendum process had been arranged under the supervision of autonomous referendum commissions at central and district levels. He claimed that millions of people would participate in the exercise, after which a schedule for surrounding the Punjab Assembly would be announced in the light of public opinion.
He said the referendum would continue for four days, with camps set up at intersections, markets, educational institutions and other public places across Punjab. According to him, the printing of ballot papers has been completed, and all arrangements have been finalised to ensure transparency.
Rejecting the Islamabad Local Government Ordinance, the JI chief demanded its immediate withdrawal and called for local government elections in the federal capital according to the previously announced schedule of February 15. He also announced that Jamaat-e-Islami would challenge the ordinance in court.
Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman said that empowered local governments and student unions were the “nurseries of democracy.” But, he regretted that none of the so-called major political parties were willing to talk about strengthening democracy. He said student unions were banned and local governments practically non-existent. While a bureaucracy trained under colonial traditions continued to control all powers. He stressed that the bureaucracy must remain subordinate to elected representatives.
Islamabad Civic Issues:
Rehman alleged that around 23,000 trees had been cut in the federal capital. The JI Emir accused the ruling elite of destroying the environment despite global rhetoric on climate protection. He demanded that those responsible for tree-cutting be identified and sent to jail. He also highlighted poor road conditions, a dilapidated sewerage system. And worsening water shortages in Islamabad, saying that the absence of an effective local government system had left citizens unheard.
Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman said Islamabad had been divided into three cities under the new ordinance. While, he added, Lahore had been downgraded to a town under the Punjab Local Government Act. He demanded that all powers guaranteed under Article 140-A of the Constitution be fully devolved to local governments in both Islamabad and Punjab.
The JI chief termed the Punjab Local Government Act unconstitutional and anti-democratic. He alleged that amendments had distorted the spirit of the Constitution. He said the ruling elite feared the people. And was attempting to extend what he described as a “market of power” down to the grassroots level through non-party local government elections. Rehman added that Jamaat-e-Islami was struggling for systemic change. And the movement for empowered local governments was part of that broader struggle.
The JI chief accused the US President Donald Trump of violating international laws. And engaging in what he termed global “bullying.” He said Pakistan’s rulers should express remorse over nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. And apologise to the nation. He also stated that sending Pakistani troops to Gaza would be unacceptable under any circumstances.
