ISLAMABAD: The Federal Government is scheduled to hold talks with Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) today (Sunday) to negotiate a peaceful end to the party’s ongoing sit-in at Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh.
The JI, led by Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, has been protesting against soaring electricity bills and rising taxes, warning that the sit-in could expand to other areas across the country if their demands are not met.
As the protest entered its second day, Murree Road was closed to traffic from Marrir Chowk to Committee Chowk, affecting business activities in the area due to the placement of containers. Under pressure from the JI, a government delegation led by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar engaged in preliminary talks with JI protesters on Saturday night. It was agreed that both sides would hold a formal discussion Sunday to address JI’s demands.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar expressed optimism for a fruitful outcome. He also mentioned that the exact location for the talks would be determined Sunday.
During the sit-in on Sunday, JI chief Hafiz Naeem thanked the protesters for their attendance, emphasizing that their grievances regarding power and tax hikes were shared by the entire country. He asserted that the issue could only be resolved through political struggle within constitutional bounds, highlighting the right to protest when Parliament and institutions fail to address public concerns.
He directed pointed remarks at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, questioning how the common man could manage household expenses on a minimum wage of Rs37,000 and afford high electricity bills. He demanded a reduction in electricity bills and criticized the opacity surrounding contracts with independent power producers (IPPs). Additionally, he condemned the high tax burden on the salaried class in Pakistan, comparing it unfavorably to India, and criticized landlords and capitalists for their decision-making roles.
Rehman called on people from all walks of life, including students, lawyers, businessmen, and industrialists, to join the protest, emphasizing that the path to change lay in supporting the Jamaat-e-Islami’s movement.
