JI defers protest sit-in after 'successful talks'

Govt agrees to review agreements with IPPs

RAWALPINDI:

The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has postponed its protest sit-in after "conditional successful negotiations" with the government, maintaining that the latter had accepted its demands, including reviewing agreements with the independent power producers (IPPs).

Both the sides signed an agreement in this regard.

The development came late Thursday after the fifth round of talks between both the sides concluded at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi.

The JI had been staging a protest sit-in since a fortnight against high electricity bills, excessive taxation, agreements with IPPs, rising petrol and gas prices, and general inflation.

The party had also been holding a sit-in in Karachi since Saturday.

On Thursday, JI amir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman stated that they had not ended their sit-in but deferred it. He announced to hold a public rally on Islamabad Highway on Friday (today), where he said future course of action would be disclosed.

The party chief warned that they would resume stage sit-ins if the agreement was not implemented in both letter and spirit.

According to the agreement, the government will reduce the per-unit price of electricity, the FPCCI will also report to the auditor general, and the power sector will recommend measures in the financial and operational sectors.

The government agreed to the JI's demand to impose taxes on landlords, Deputy Emir of JI Liaquat Baloch said, adding that it also consented to reducing the tax on the salaried class in stages.

Baloch said Information Minister Ataullah Tarar and Interior Minister Moshin Naqvi, signed the agreement on the party's demands.

He said the government will hold scrutiny of agreements with IPPs, adding that a task force would be constituted for the purpose which would table its report before the prime minister within a month.

He noted that the two sides agreed to monitor matters related to IPPs and energy sector.

Interior Minister Naqvi announced that the power tariff will scale down soon, adding, "All of us intend to provide relief to people. We have pledged that the power tariff will be reduced in any form which will be visible to you."