Addressing a protest at Numaish Chowrangi, senior Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mairajul Huda said the party was demanding relief for the people of Karachi as they have been victims of overbilling and load-shedding. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN
The party has been demanding of the power utility to lower its charges in line with NEPRA, which had recently reduced its base tariff by Rs3.5 to Rs12.07 per unit.
On Friday, around 20 JI workers, including the party leadership, were detained as they attempted to hold their protests on Sharae Faisal.
Police round up JI workers after clash
The police claimed to have taken action against the JI activists as Section 144 was imposed, restricting protests or gatherings on the city’s main artery. Nevertheless, all the workers have been released.
Addressing a protest at Numaish Chowrangi, senior JI leader Mairajul Huda said that the party was demanding relief for the people of Karachi as they have been victims of overbilling and load-shedding. He added that the government was protecting K-E. “There is no doubt that K-Electric is corrupt and performing like a mafia in the city,” he said. “But we will break the neck of K-Electric with the power of the people.”
Meanwhile, JI General Secretary Liaqat Baloch, flanked by the party’s Karachi amir, Naeemur Rehman, addressed a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq, which is the JI’s headquarters. “We have knocked on every door, have been to judiciary and government and even talked to K-Electric administration,” said Baloch. “But there is no end to the atrocities of K-Electric towards the citizens of Karachi never stopped. Even today there is load-shedding and overbilling in the city.”
Baloch added that that the party has never promoted violence during their protests and has never taken the law into their hands. Thus, he added, whatever happened during the protests on Friday seemed like a ‘well-planned game’ to sabotage their voices against the ‘corrupt K-Electric mafia’.
“There was no choice left for us other than protesting for the rights of the oppressed people of Karachi,” he said, adding that Karachiites are being victimised by a single electric company, which is running its businesses ‘like a mafia’.
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Criticising the government, Baloch added that it is sad to see that ‘so-called champions of democracy’ remain silent on the police action against their peaceful protest. However, he added, the workers and leaders of JI will continue their struggle for the people of Karachi.
“It is a false claim that we blocked Sharae Faisal,” he said. “Other parties carry out their rallies on the same road and they are provided with protocols and roads are also closed for traffic.”
He urged upon the people of Karachi to come out and join them in their protest against K-E. “JI is the only party protesting for you,” he said. He demanded that an enquiry should be conducted to find out who was behind all the ‘planned police action’ against the workers, which resulted in straight gunshots and teargas shelling, wounding many workers.
“We have never been afraid of such tactics and have given many sacrifices in the past as well,” said Baloch. “We will perform a sit-in that will put K-Electric on the back foot.”
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