LAHORE: The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Sunday concluded its Ijtima-e-Aam in Lahore with the formal launch of a nationwide “Change the System Movement.” Addressing the final session, JI Ameer Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced that rallies, marches and sit-ins would be organised across the country to push for structural political reforms.
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The large-scale congregation, attended by delegates from more than 45 countries, marked a significant moment for the party as it laid out its roadmap for mass mobilisation. Rehman stressed that the current power structure must shift away from bureaucracy and toward fully empowered local governments, which he described as the core demand of the movement.
He directed the JI’s Punjab leadership to immediately start preparations for a province-wide campaign demanding local body elections. He added that the issue was not confined to Punjab alone, as Sindh, KP and Balochistan also suffered from what he called “elite capture” of all decision-making powers.
Rehman announced ambitious organisational goals for the movement, including the addition of five million new party members and the formation of 15,000 public committees. He called for constitutional protection of the local government system and instructed Punjab leaders to prepare for a major sit-in in front of the provincial assembly in the coming weeks.
The JI chief also rejected the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments, warning that any attempt to “deface” the 1973 Constitution would be strongly resisted. He declared that the party would not allow elections to be manipulated or “hijacked at any cost.”
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Rehman said the JI opposed the banning of political parties and argued that neither the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan nor Imran Khan should be barred from participating in politics. He emphasised that strengthening democratic institutions and promoting political inclusivity were essential for Pakistan’s stability and future.