JI to resume nationwide protest on January 31

Opp party to take to streets for relief for masses, particularly in electricity bills

KARACHI:

Months after striking an agreement with the government on public demands and pledging to keep an eagle eye on its promises, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has announced the resumption of its nationwide protests.

JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman revealed the decision during a news conference held at Idara Noor-e-Haq, JI's Karachi headquarters, on Sunday. He said that the protest campaign, beginning on January 31, will focus on a single-point agenda of providing relief to the masses, particularly by reducing electricity bills.

He said that ironically the successive ruling regimes in the country, with opposite ideologies and agendas, always shun their differences when it comes to their own monetary interests or supporting mafias in the country.

He elaborated that the heavy, exuberant vertical rises in salaries of parliamentarians as well as the issue of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are evident in it.

He added that the wheat mafia and sugar mafia were sheltered in the recent past, whereas a crisis is looming large over the cotton sector as once against the mafias in the sector is being sheltered.

Focusing on the IPPs, he said that the sector was always showered with blessings and IPPs were given Rs1 trillion relief in taxes.

The JI emir asserted that JI's campaign compelled the government to renegotiate contracts with IPPs, yet the public had not benefited. "The nation wants to know where the impact is," he said, emphasizing the need to pass on these benefits to the people.

He stressed that the government should have transferred the benefits of the cancelled and reviewed Independent Power Producers (IPP) contracts to the public. "Since the government has shown no interest in doing so, the JI will intensify its agitation campaign with greater force and determination."

He asserted that the government must reduce electricity prices and revise its policies to prioritize the welfare of the underprivileged.

He demanded the government reduce electricity bills, end excessive taxation, reduce the petroleum levy, end perks for the privileged class, and relief for the salaried class.

He urged the nation to join the JI's campaign instead of waiting for their turn to receive a fatal blow by the governmental policies.

On the occasion, Naeemur Rehman strongly condemned all those political parties who voted for a 140 per cent rise in the salaries of parliamentarians.

He highlighted that the rise was okayed at a time when 40 per cent of the country's population was living under the line of poverty.

Addressing the PECA ordinance, he slammed the legislation, saying that while JI does not condone fake news or incitement against Pakistan or Islam, political dissent should not be suppressed under authoritarian pretexts. He expressed solidarity with the media, questioning the government's intent in bypassing consensus to impose the ordinance.