ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, Tuesday, while announcing to extend protest, said that the party has decided to spread the protest nationwide with organising a sit-in outside the Governor’s House in Karachi, in the first phase.

Addressing a press conference here, he said that the party will expand protest to Lahore and Multan in the second phase of the JI’s countrywide demonstrations against inflation and the government’s agreements with independent power producers (IPPs) which have resulted in exorbitant electricity bills.

The party’s sit-in at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi has entered fifth day after the government team did not turn up for second round on Monday.

The announcement comes after the JI chief, on Saturday, warned of expanding the sit-in against skyrocketing electricity bills and high taxes to other parts of the country if the government failed to meet his party’s demands.

On Sunday, a three-member delegation including Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Amir Muqam, and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry met the JI negotiation committee, led by Liaquat Baloch at the Rawalpindi commissioner’s office to hold talks to chalk out a way forward.

JI has put forward 10 conditions, including renegotiation of agreements with IPPs, for ending its protest sit-in staged against inflation including a massive hike in electricity tariffs.

The JI’s demands are as follows: (i) Abolition of Petroleum Development Levy on all petroleum products and withdrawal of latest increase in prices of these products; (ii) 20 per cent reduction in prices of food commodities, electricity and gas tariffs; (iii) Renegotiation of agreements with independent power producers (IPPs); (iv) Ending clause of agreement with IPPs on making payments in US dollars; (v) 50 per cent discount should be granted to power consumers of 500 units; (vi) Reduction in taxes on agriculture and industrial sectors besides decreasing their financial burden by 50 per cent; (vii) Ensuring incentives to industrial sector, trade and investment to provide employment to youth; (viii) Withdrawal of increase in taxes on the salaried class and imposition of taxes on the privileged class; (ix) Cut in non-development expenses by 35 per cent, and (x) Withdrawal of all taxes on stationery and other items used in education and training of children.

Hafiz Naeem censured the government for skyrocketing inflation and said that prevailing policies are leading to the closure of businesses.

Calling on the government to reduce electricity prices and carry out an audit of the IPPs, the JI chief gave a two-day ultimatum to the government to meet their demands and said that the party would not end protest until their demands were met by the government.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024