Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has decided to launch a fresh movement against rising electricity prices and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) after Ramazan, instead of joining the opposition's anti-government campaign.
JI emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that his party would not align with political groups that "change their stance at a single phone call", lambasting them for focusing on fresh elections instead of demanding a judicial commission to probe electoral rigging.
"I fail to understand why PTI is demanding new elections when they have Form 45 in their possession," he said while speaking at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday. He stressed that the priority should be a judicial commission to probe electoral fraud.
He also questioned why the opposition parties remain silent on the legitimacy of what he called a "fake parliament" that prioritised laws against "fake news" rather than electoral transparency.
The JI emir pointed out that the previous movement led by his party against rising electricity prices and IPPs had forced the government to engage in negotiations. However, the government ultimately failed to provide relief to the public.
He reiterated that after Eid, Jamaat-e-Islami would once again take to the streets, demanding a reduction in electricity tariffs and action against IPPs.
He argued that electricity prices were being kept high due to pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and questioned why the government could not renegotiate with the lender. "The government must show courage to reduce electricity prices," he said.
"Shockingly, the IMF has now even gained access to our judiciary."
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