Addressing participants of the sit-in in Karachi, Hafiz Naeem said small-scale farmers were struggling because of rising prices of agricultural medicines and urea.

He said the country was still operating under what he described as a system of “farmer after farmer and landlord after landlord,” alleging that landlords, Chaudhrys, Khans and Sardars continued to wield significant influence.

He claimed that ordinary tenant farmers still lacked the dignity and freedom to stand before influential landlords on an equal footing.

Referring to wheat prices, Hafiz Naeem alleged that the government does not fully pay the officially fixed price, forcing small farmers to sell their produce at lower rates, while hoarders purchase wheat cheaply and make substantial profits.

He claimed that wheat purchased for Rs2,200 could reach around Rs5,000 in the market, raising questions, in his view, about the role of the government and relevant companies in the pricing chain.

Hafiz Naeem said inflation had made even bread costing Rs20 to Rs25 expensive for low-income families, while the middle class was struggling to meet electricity bills, children's education expenses and other basic household costs.

Questions over Punjab's development claims

Criticizing the Punjab government's development narrative, Hafiz Naeem said constructing a few roads and bridges, or completing BRT and Orange Line projects, should not be considered the sole measure of development.

He also questioned the condition of government schools in Punjab and claimed that 11,000 schools had been “sold” while proposals were being discussed to sell another 15,000 schools.

The Jamaat-e-Islami chief also raised questions over the alleged use of a government aircraft for the London graduation ceremony of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's daughter.

He asked who bears the costs of the aircraft, pilots' salaries, parking and other expenses, and called for the matter to be investigated.

Criticism of Sindh government

Discussing the situation in Sindh, Hafiz Naeem said the Pakistan Peoples Party government had been in power in the province for nearly 18 years, yet people continued to face a lack of basic facilities.

He claimed that thousands of “ghost schools” existed in Sindh and questioned the condition of schools, colleges and universities across the province.

Hafiz Naeem said the issue was not limited to any single political party, arguing that the broader system was controlled by influential landlords and vested interests.

He said Jamaat-e-Islami was not campaigning against any individual or political personality but against what he described as the existing system and those benefiting from it.

Questions raised over IPP agreements

Speaking about Independent Power Producers (IPPs), Hafiz Naeem said the process of establishing private power projects in Pakistan began in 1994, with successive governments entering into agreements with IPPs.

He raised questions about the generation capacities mentioned in power agreements, as well as loans, interest payments, profits and tax liabilities, and called for the government to provide explanations.

He also claimed that some companies associated with IPPs had offshore registrations and foreign interests, while consumers continued to bear the burden of various taxes, surcharges, fuel adjustments and other charges through their electricity bills.

Hafiz Naeem said Jamaat-e-Islami had launched a sit-in in Islamabad against IPPs two years ago, following which the government began negotiations with power producers.

According to him, the government had claimed that changes to IPP agreements would result in benefits worth Rs4.5 trillion, but Jamaat-e-Islami maintains that the full benefit has not been passed on to consumers.

Sugar prices and exports

Hafiz Naeem also criticized what he called the “sugar mafia,” claiming that sugar prices did not fall despite the government's decision to allow imports.

He said sugar mill owners were now seeking permission to export one million metric tonnes of sugar and called on the government to explain its decisions regarding sugar imports, exports, prices and the interests of sugar mill owners.

He said Jamaat-e-Islami's ongoing sit-in movement had brought the issues surrounding IPPs, sugar, flour and other alleged mafias into public debate.

He urged the government to reduce its own privileges and expenditures instead of placing additional taxes and financial burdens on citizens.