Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan’s leader, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, has called on the government, and Prime Minister to heed the public’s demands.
The JI chief emphasised that the ‘time for secretive government actions has passed.’
He said that, “The government team must come forward, or we may have to advertise to find them. The option of boycotting electricity bills and launching a movement to remove the government is available. We can announce a march to Islamabad at any time, and your containers hold no significance before us.”
Read ‘Our patience wearing thin over govt’s inaction’
In his address, Hafiz Naeem remarked that the Jamaat-e-Islami has strategic options like “bouncers” and “yorkers,” metaphorically referring to political maneuvers.
He said, “The bowler is currently bowling with line and length. When it’s our turn to bat, everyone will know.
The JI chief urged the government to focus on the public’s demands, noting that people are participating in the sit-in despite rain, sunshine, and other challenges. “The sit-in will also begin in Karachi today, and it will spread across the country. The government must reduce electricity prices at any cost, and we will continue the sit-in until our demands are met. People are being forced to sell household items to pay their electricity bills,” he lamented.
Read more JI chief warns of expanding protests if demands are not met
He expressed surprise at how politicians, even at the Prime Minister’s level, ‘start denying public issues when politics begins to take its true direction.’
Hafiz Naeem accused government parties and the Prime Minister of ‘perpetuating politics focused on personal agendas.’
“Now, those with Form 47 have been imposed on us. Our politics is focused on obtaining relief for the people, whether anyone likes it or not. We will not leave until we get our rights.”
Outlining the Jamaat-e-Islami’s demands, Hafiz Naeem asserted, “Our demands are simple. The public will not pay the IPPs’ capacity charges. There have been two rounds of negotiations with the government, and the government committee has not been able to label any of our demands as wrong. The Prime Minister should tell us who is pressuring him. Why can’t the Chief Ministers, Governors, and military and civil officers give up their big cars and government privileges?”
He further demanded that the tax slabs created in the current budget be withdrawn and criticised the government for making announcements without issuing notifications.
“The negotiating committee is present here, and the government has no answer to any of our points. Why can’t they prove in negotiations that the IPPs’ matter is feasible? The government has no justification for oppressing the people; they must provide relief. Our stance on the IPPs is clear: we will not accept that people pay for electricity that is not even being produced,” Hafiz Naeem asserted.
