LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has warned that public anger is steadily building and could erupt if the ruling elite continue to sustain what he described as an oppressive system and deny people their democratic rights.
Talking to the media after addressing the concluding ceremony of Bukhari Sharif at Jamia Markaz Uloom-e-Islamia on Thursday, Mr Rehman demanded the establishment of a genuinely empowered local government system and the removal of all restrictions on democratic freedoms.
He said the country’s youth were being pushed into despair as access to education and employment continued to shrink, while electricity, gas and fuel prices were rising relentlessly. He also criticised what he termed a decaying judicial system, further weakened by recent amendments that, he said, had tightened elite control. The economy, he added, remained trapped in an interest-based framework that benefitted only a select few.
Referring to the newly introduced local government law in Punjab, the JI chief termed it a “black law” imposed at a time when people were already struggling to survive. He said Jamaat-i-Islami considered resistance against what he described as an unjust and exploitative system a national and moral obligation.
Mr Rehman cautioned rulers to carefully assess the situation and address public grievances, warning that once frustration turns into open revolt, it cannot be contained through force. “When lawful avenues are blocked, people are pushed towards unlawful means,” he said, urging authorities to respect public opinion and restore people’s rightful voice in governance.
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He also criticised Pakistan’s ruling circles for seeking favour with US President Donald Trump, despite what he described as Trump’s role in advancing a new colonial order, providing protection to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu despite international court rulings, and acting against Venezuela’s leadership. Pakistan’s rulers, he said, must represent the aspirations of their own people rather than seek foreign approval.
Earlier, Mr Rehman urged religious scholars and students to rise above sectarian differences and work towards unity of the Ummah on common principles. He emphasised that spreading knowledge, strengthening outreach to the public and accelerating the struggle for the establishment of Deen were among Islam’s most noble traditions.
The JI chief, earlier, urged religious scholars and students to rise above sectarian differences and unite the Ummah on common principles.https://t.co/WTFccag06C
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) January 9, 2026
Reaffirming Jamaat-i-Islami’s commitment to peaceful political resistance, he cited the example of JI Bangladesh, saying that despite severe repression under Sheikh Hasina’s rule, sustained and patient struggle eventually forced the dictator to flee. He also referred to the resistance of Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood as examples of resilience against oppression.
“Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan stands firmly with the people and will continue to raise its voice for their rights,” he said, adding that the struggle for the supremacy of a just and rightful system would be intensified.
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