Islamabad: The Jamaat-e-Islami Punjab North Majlis-e-Shura meeting was held yesterday under the chairmanship of Naib Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Punjab, Hafiz Tanveer Ahmed. The meeting reviewed preparations for the public referendum scheduled for November 15 against the Punjab Local Government Act, described by the party as a “black law,” and issued special instructions to district-level leadership to ensure effective mobilization.
Addressing the meeting, Hafiz Tanveer Ahmed termed the Punjab Local Government Act “fake, anti-democratic, and a manifestation of hostility towards the people.” He said the upcoming public referendum aims to gather public opinion against the law and in favor of a genuinely empowered local government system. He warned that continued denial of the people’s right to vote would intensify public resentment, for which the ruling elite would bear responsibility. He emphasized that an empowered local government system must be established nationwide, including in Punjab, to ensure genuine public participation and the development of a democratic culture.
Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Punjab Iqbal Khan, also addressed the meeting, stating that those who claim to uphold the sanctity of the vote have, in fact, undermined it by passing the Punjab local government law. He criticized the current system for encouraging horse-trading and turning local governance into a marketplace for buying and selling influence, similar to practices seen in the Senate and National Assembly. Iqbal Khan further highlighted the challenges faced by the youth, including limited access to education and employment, a deteriorating judicial system, and increased control by the ruling class through recent amendments. He noted that the economy remains burdened by interest-based policies, while prices of electricity, oil, and gas continue to rise. Introducing such a controversial local government law amid these hardships, he said, reflects misplaced priorities. He concluded by reiterating that Jamaat-e-Islami considers it its duty to resist this unjust system and to continue its struggle for a transparent, democratic, and people-centric local government framework.
