Hafiz Naeem urges govt to address demands or face nationwide strikes

Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has declared that talks with the government scheduled for tomorrow at 3 pm will be a pivotal moment for the success of the ongoing sit-in protests. 

He warned that if the government fails to meet their demands, protests will escalate, leading to road blockages at various locations, including D-Chowk, and nationwide shutter-down strikes and wheel jams.

Addressing a large rally on the fifth day of the sit-in at Liaquat Bagh on Tuesday, Hafiz Naeem urged that while social media is a useful platform, tangible action is necessary. 

Referring to the popular demand for a sit-in at D-Chowk, he warned that if negotiations turn out to be insincere, the protesters would insist on their demands and would not be deterred by roadblocks or containers. 

He stated that JI is committed to their cause, and there will be no compromise on their demands. He urged the government to address grievances related to Independent Power Producers (IPP) and other contentious agreements.

The party chief also criticised the ruling coalition of Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, suggesting that they might face a 'government-toppling' movement if demands are not met. 

He noted that the current administration’s handling of issues related to middle-class citizens and its approach toward IPPs are crucial concerns.

He criticised the notion that the government’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was a solution, branding it as a "lie and fraud." 

According to Naeem, reducing government expenses and cutting down on luxury vehicles could significantly save the national treasury. 

He suggested that if high officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and federal ministers, used smaller, less costly vehicles, it could result in a saving of up to Rs300 billion annually in fuel costs alone.

The JI chief emphasised the need to abolish taxes on landowners of up to 20 acres while imposing them on those with larger holdings. He also criticised the government’s tax policies and called for a reduction in interest payments. 

He proposed that by eliminating the curse of interest, the government's interest payments could be reduced from Rs8,500 billion to Rs5 billion.

Hafiz Naeem further highlighted the disparity between rising utility bills and insufficient wage increases, questioning whether the minimum wage of Rs37,000 is being implemented effectively. 

He accused the government of favouring feudal and capitalist interests and asserted that JI stands for the integration of religion into all aspects of statecraft, including politics, economy, and law.

He concluded by emphasising that the specifics of the meeting location are secondary to the core issue of meeting their demands. He announced that protests in Sindh will continue as planned, with a similar sit-in in Lahore to be announced soon.