LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) will mark February 8 as a black day, with the party planning a strong protest outside the Election Commission’s office in Karachi, as announced by the party’s leader Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman on Thursday.

Hafiz Naeem emphasized that the protest is aimed at highlighting the alleged electoral rigging and irregularities that occurred during the 2024 general elections in Pakistan. He further suggested that the establishment of a judicial commission could help resolve the situation if it decides based on Form 45, which records the results from polling stations. He expressed concern that the government had no intention to address the issues in such a manner, while the opposition had not launched any movement based on Form 45. Naeem ur Rehman stressed that calling for fresh elections would only serve to bolster the government and legitimize the rigging in the polls, rather than ensuring a fair and transparent election process. He cited his own experience, having vacated his Sindh Assembly seat in Karachi due to discrepancies in the vote count, which favored his opponent.

The JI leader remains vocal about the need for a just electoral system and has been calling for accountability and reform in the electoral process, insisting that the people’s trust in democracy be restored. The protest and the black day observance are part of the party’s ongoing efforts to demand a fair resolution to the electoral issues.