TIMERGARA – Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Sunday said that governance in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, much like at the federal level, had been reduced to slogans, lamenting that citizens continue to be deprived of basic services despite more than a decade of uninterrupted rule by a single party.
Addressing a public gathering titled “Badal Do Nizam” (Change the System) at Dir Stadium in Upper Dir, Naeemur Rehman said that even after 14 years of the same party in power, people in the province still lack access to healthcare, education, and fundamental rights.
Outsourcing Schools a ‘Failure’
He slammed the outsourcing of public schools, calling it “a clear admission of failure” instead of improving the government education system. The JI chief argued that rather than strengthening public institutions, the government has chosen to hand them over to private entities.
Soaring Debt and Economic Hardship
He said the country had been pushed under a heavy debt burden, claiming that national debt had risen from Rs55 trillion to Rs85 trillion in just four years, while “rulers are taking nearly Rs20 billion in fresh loans every day” as the public grapples with inflation and economic hardship.
Colonial-Era Bureaucracy
The JI chief said the public had been misled for 79 years through slogans and symbolism, while the bureaucracy continued to operate on a colonial-era system that treats citizens as subjects. He called for systemic change rather than mere changes of faces in power.
KP and Punjab ‘Extensions’ of Each Other
He said the governments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab were extensions of one another, suggesting that despite different party labels, governance failures remain consistent across provinces.
Abolishing Dual Education System
He pledged that if brought to power, Jamaat-e-Islami would abolish the dual education system that separates rich and poor, and ensure women receive their rightful share in inheritance. The dual education system — elite private schools versus underfunded public schools — has long been criticised for perpetuating class divisions.
Invitation to PTI Workers
Inviting workers of the PTI to join his party’s movement, Naeemur Rehman said Jamaat-e-Islami would build a nationwide base of five million members and establish 50,000 public committees to uproot “an unjust system”. The invitation is significant, as PTI remains the dominant political force in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa despite internal challenges and the imprisonment of its founder.
Other Speakers
The gathering was also addressed by former provincial minister and JI K-P North chief Inayatullah Khan, party vice emir Maulana Dr Ataur Rehman, former MNA Sahibzada Tariqullah, and JI Upper Dir emir Sahibzada Faseehullah.
Analysis: A Challenge to PTI’s Dominance in KP
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman’s direct invitation to PTI workers to join JI’s movement signals an attempt to challenge PTI’s political dominance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. With PTI founder Imran Khan imprisoned and the party facing organisational challenges, JI sees an opportunity to expand its base.
The focus on governance failures — healthcare, education, debt, and the dual education system — resonates with citizens frustrated by the gap between PTI’s revolutionary rhetoric and on-ground realities.
The call to abolish the dual education system and ensure women’s inheritance rights are concrete policy proposals that distinguish JI from other parties.
Whether PTI workers will respond to the invitation remains to be seen. But Naeemur Rehman’s message is clear: change, he argues, requires not just slogans but systemic transformation.
