'Our patience wearing thin over govt's inaction'

RAWALPINDI:

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Friday slammed the government for dragging its feet on critical decisions regarding Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

He asserted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's consultations with the "Form 47 parties" were futile, cautioning that they would only lead to further destruction.

"You accuse us of playing politics with public rights, but it's you who providing the opportunity," the JI leader said.

He stressed that his party did not intend for the protest to snowball into a movement to topple the government. However, he warned that if the government keeps leaving the public high and dry, the people will pressurise the rulers in protest.

"We do not want to start a movement to overthrow the government, but if you continue to ignore the sit-in participants and indulge in your luxuries, while the public bears the brunt, no one can stop this movement from becoming a government ouster campaign," he stated.

Addressing the Liaquat Bagh sit-in via video link from Doha, Qatar, where he is attending the slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh's funeral, Rehman reiterated that the issue of exorbitant electricity bills was not political but a public concern.

"I came here for Ismail Haniyeh's funeral and met his family. The US and Western powers did not let his government function. Those looking to the US are destined for darkness. Qatar has bravely conducted Haniyeh's funeral and burial," he added.

He lambasted the government for imposing undue taxes on the salaried class and failing to resolve the capacity payment issues of IPPs.

Further criticising PM Shehbaz, the JI emir said, "The prime minister accuses us of politicising electricity bills, but this is a matter of our economy and people's lives."

He lamented that people receive their salaries, only to find them consumed by electricity bills. "Where should they go? Should they commit suicide? Society will descend into chaos."

Hafiz Naeem said the JI has become the voice of these people, adding that the resilience of the sit-in participants was unparalleled. "You are the hope of millions," he said addressing the participants of the sit-in.

He urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to listen to the people's voices instead of consulting with parties that have historically played a game of musical chairs with power.

"Since 1994, the same political players have been manipulating the system through Form 47. They support each other when convenient and impose themselves through fraudulent means."

He also questioned the public legitimacy of the prime minister, who he claimed suffered a crushing defeat in his constituency.

"Even the chief minister, who is the prime minister's daughter [Maryam Nawaz], faced a humiliating defeat. Despite spending millions on advertisements, they lost Lahore, which they considered their stronghold. The people of Karachi have also rejected the PPP and MQM."

Accusing the prime minister of spreading more destruction by consulting with these political parties, the JI emir warned that ignoring the people's voice would only result in more losses for the government.

He lambasted the government for avoiding negotiations.