Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, has sharply criticized the privatization policies and alleged corruption surrounding national institutions, including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and K-Electric.  In a press conference held at Noor Haq Institute, he demanded that a full court bench hear Jamaat-e-Islami’s petition against the 26th Constitutional Amendment in the Supreme Court, claiming the amendment undermines the 1973 Constitution and threatens Pakistan’s democracy. Hafiz Naeemur Rehman stated that Jamaat-e-Islami had filed a petition challenging the 26th Amendment, emphasizing that the Assembly formed under Form 47 does not have the authority to alter the foundational structure of the Constitution. He argued that the amendment, particularly in relation to judicial reforms, has politicized the judiciary and eroded the independence of Pakistan’s courts. He condemned the alleged corruption involved in the recent changes to the judicial system, which, according to him, have been manipulated to gain political leverage.

Addressing the issue of privatization, Rehman condemned the sale of national assets, particularly PIA and K-Electric, as "a national tragedy." He questioned the motives behind Nawaz Sharif’s suggestion for his daughter to purchase and run PIA under the Punjab government and Ali Amin Gandapur's proposal to control the airline under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. He accused the ruling elites of squandering public resources and exploiting national assets for personal gain. "Who sank the PIA fleet in 40 years? Who destroyed the national institutions?" he asked, referring to the previous governments' inability to reform and revitalize state-owned enterprises. He pointed out that despite claims by PTI to restore national institutions, the party failed to address the problems of PIA and Pakistan Steel Mills during its time in power. Rehman emphasized that the responsibility of running national institutions lies with the government.

He criticized the continuous losses of institutions like PIA, which, according to him, could still be profitable if managed properly. He accused the ruling elite of deliberately undermining these institutions through poor management and privatization, which has only benefited a few at the expense of the public. "PIA’s assets are worth over 152 billion rupees, yet its privatization was mishandled and undervalued," Rehman said, adding that the airline’s fleet, which was once a source of national pride, has been mismanaged into a crisis. He also highlighted the situation with K-Electric, accusing the government of selling the utility at a significantly reduced price, leading to the current bankruptcy and corruption surrounding the company. Rehman also took aim at the Independent Power Producers (IPPs), claiming that the nation is being burdened with unjust payments amounting to over 2,000 billion rupees annually.

He criticized the government’s decision to give a seven-year dollar-based generation tariff to K-Electric, which he called "the worst form of privatization" that is further draining the public's resources. "The IPPs have been exempted from income tax despite the fact that the government holds a 52% stake in many of them. This situation is destroying the economy," Rehman added, pointing out that while these private entities profit from taxpayer money, the general public continues to suffer from rising energy costs. In his address, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman reiterated Jamaat-e-Islami's commitment to representing the interests of the people, stating that his party would continue to fight against the privatization and corruption of national institutions. He emphasized that Jamaat-e-Islami would continue to highlight these issues and advocate for transparency, accountability, and the proper management of public assets.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan