A large number of Karachi residents participated in the ‘Jeenay Do Karachi’ march, demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister and the Mayor of Karachi.
Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman addressed participants during the march held on Shahrah-e-Faisal, raising strong concerns over the Gul Plaza tragedy, governance failures, and the worsening living conditions in Karachi.
Addressing the crowd, Hafiz Naeem said Karachi represents a mini-Pakistan, home to people of every language, ethnicity, and creed, and cannot be treated as a neglected city. He stated that citizens are demanding their basic right to live with dignity and move forward.
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Referring to the Gul Plaza fire incident, he said people were burning alive while authorities failed to respond, calling it criminal negligence.
He criticized the federal and provincial leadership for not visiting the affected families, adding that despite Karachi driving the country’s economy, its pain remains ignored.
Hafiz Naeem highlighted that Karachi contributes 42 percent of income tax and 54 percent of national revenue, yet lacks basic infrastructure, transport, and safety.
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He said the city’s 35 million residents suffer daily due to the absence of decent public transport and unchecked movement of dumpers and tankers causing deaths.
He accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM-P) of controlling Karachi’s institutions for political gains while promoting linguistic and racial politics.
He alleged that town and union council chairmen have no authority, while power remains with feudal elites.
The JI leader demanded an empowered city government as guaranteed by the constitution instead of federal or provincial control. He questioned why constitutional amendments could be passed for power-sharing, but not for strong local governments.
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Calling for accountability, Hafiz Naeem demanded a judicial inquiry into the Gul Plaza tragedy under the Chief Justice, rejecting symbolic or ineffective investigations. He questioned the role of the Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) in allowing illegal constructions.
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He announced a historic sit-in outside the Sindh Assembly on February 14, stating that the previous 29-day protest achieved awareness, but the next phase would focus on reclaiming Karachi’s powers.
Concluding his speech, Hafiz Naeem said Jamaat-e-Islami seeks no personal gain and stands firmly with the people. He urged citizens to unite peacefully, warning that the occupation system will no longer be accepted.
