RAWALPINDI: Extending the party’s ongoing protest, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has announced a nationwide demonstration against inflation and government deals with independent power producers (IPPs) that have led to exorbitant electricity bills.
Speaking at Rawalpindi’s Murree Road, Hafiz Naeem said the party would stage a sit-in outside the governor’s office in Karachi in the first phase, followed by more protests in Lahore and Multan as well.
The announcement comes after the JI chief warned on Saturday of extending the sit-in against skyrocketing electricity bills and high taxes to other parts of the country if the government did not meet his party’s demands.
The party session entered its fifth day today after the government team failed to turn up for the second round on Monday.
On Sunday, a three-member delegation including Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, Amir Muqam and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry met the Liaquat Baloch-led JI negotiating committee at the Rawalpindi Commissioner’s office to discuss the way forward.
The politico-religious party presented 10 conditions, including a renegotiation of agreements with IPPs, to end the sit-in protest against inflation, including a massive increase in electricity rates.
Speaking to party workers in Rawalpindi, Hafiz Naeem slammed the government for skyrocketing inflation and said the prevailing policy was leading to business closures.
Calling on the government to reduce electricity prices and audit the IPPs, the JI chief gave the government a two-day ultimatum to meet their demands and said the party would not withdraw its protest until their demands were met. government.
Following the party emir’s remarks, JI Karachi chief Munem Zafar said that they want to terminate the agreements with IPP and K-Electric – Karachi’s primary electricity supplier.
