JI threatens nationwide power bills boycott

Naeem warns that delay in addressing party's demands will cost the rulers dearly

RAWALPINDI:

Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman delivered on Monday an ultimatum to the government, declaring that he might call on citizens nationwide to stop paying their electricity bills if their demands are not met.

He warned that delay in addressing the party's demands – including the elimination of contracts with independent power producers (IPPs) – will cost the rulers dearly, potentially sparking a larger crisis.

He said that if immediate demands regarding inflation were not met, protests would expand to Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta within two days.

Speaking at a women's rally at the ongoing sit-in at Liaquat Bagh Chowk in Rawalpindi, Rehman said that the government was out of options and walking on thin ice.

"When our women are ready to march forward to D-Chowk, the rulers must wake up to the urgency of the matter," he declared, adding that the government was running out of road.

He said that the sit-ins will persist until their demands are fulfilled, even hinting at the possibility of a march to Islamabad's D-Chowk.

Urging the government to act quickly, the JI leader said that the longer the government dragged its feet, the more damage it would incur. He demanded the elimination of taxes, levies on petroleum, and electricity taxes, saying the government must bite the bullet.

"This is not mere politics," Hafiz Naeem said. "While they [rulers] adhere to the teachings of Islam, they follow unjust laws. Sovereignty belongs only to Allah; anyone who denies this is a tyrant. Those who recognize Allah as the provider and owner fear no one."

The Jamaat-e-Islami emir called for an overhaul of the oppressive system, recalling the Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) decree that education was obligatory for all children.

"How can we neglect the education and rights of our daughters? In Pakistan, even educated people and scholars fail to give women their rights. We will enact laws to ensure that anyone denying women their rights will face imprisonment."

Rehman announced plans for protests outside Governor Houses in Peshawar, Lahore, and Karachi, and vowed that the sit-in in Rawalpindi would continue until their demands are met.

He called for a forensic audit of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and the termination of past agreements, including the immediate cancellation of any renegotiated contracts, as it was time to clean house.

"We can no longer bear the costs of your extravagance," Hafiz Naeem said. "The world has moved forward, yet you lack vision. The days of distributing laptops and sacks of flour for photo ops are over. We need IT infrastructure."

He stressed the state's responsibility to provide education in return for taxes. "Today, over 26.2 million children across the country are out of school. This is unacceptable," he asserted.

 

Rehman said that with the protest entering its fourth day, it showed the public's determination and resilience.

He bemoaned the burden of high electricity bills and the government's lack of response to alleviate this issue.

The JI leader noted that a significant number of women would join the protest despite obstacles in Lahore, criticising the government, which he described as being controlled by a single family, for creating hurdles and worsening the situation.

Rehman condemned the unjust agreements with IPPs, revealing that 70 to 80 per cent of IPPs are non-operational due to contractual issues, with the government holding shares in 52 per cent of them.

He suggested that the prime minister, chief ministers, and judges should be limited to 1300cc vehicles to reduce the public burden, recalling former Prime Minister Junejo's precedent of 1000cc vehicles for all.

He urged all political parties to join their struggle, advising supporters to focus on government actions rather than internal party disputes.

He criticised the government's submission to IMF demands while ignoring their own extravagant spending, suggesting that dialogue with China could resolve issues amicably given China's long-standing support for Pakistan.