Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) sit-in led by party's Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman shows no signs of abating as the party signals its readiness to escalate the protests if the government fails to address their demands.
Addressing the crowd at the Rawalpindi sit-in, Hafiz Naeem warned that the protest could extend beyond a month if necessary.
Naeemur Rehman asserted that the sit-in aims to restore the rights of the people rather than serve personal interests. "We are here to block the ways of these rulers and take back the people's rights," he declared.
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He also announced plans to extend the protest to D Chowk and Parliament Houses, further intensifying their demonstration.
The Jamaat-e-Islami leader slated the government's handling of economic issues, likening the ruling elite to "wolves" draining the nation's resources.
"These wolves include IPPs and other entities that exploit our people," Naeemur Rehman said, emphasising the need for action against Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and the removal of taxes on the salaried class.
Naeemur Rehman also expressed frustration with attempts to quell the protest with force, asserting that Jamaat-e-Islami prefers peaceful political resistance.
He criticised the government's strategy of installing roadblocks and reiterated that the sit-in would persist until their demands are met.
In a call to action, Naeemur Rehman urged citizens to join a major public meeting scheduled for tomorrow on Murree Road, which he described as a pivotal moment to gauge the government's sincerity.
"Tomorrow's meeting will reveal whether the government is genuine in its intentions or merely pretending," he stated.
Jamaat-e-Islami's demands
The sit-in, which has entered its second day, has drawn a significant number of Jamaat-e-Islami workers who are advocating for a set of ten demands aimed at alleviating the economic burden on the public.
Key among these demands is a 50% reduction in electricity rates for consumers using up to 500 units, and a reduction in the prices of essential food items.
Jamaat-e-Islami has formed a negotiation committee led by Liaquat Baloch to engage with the government. The demands also include:
- Immediate withdrawal of the recent hike in petroleum prices and the abolition of the petroleum levy
- A 20% reduction in the prices of essential items
- Elimination of taxes on stationery items
- A 35% cut in non-developmental government expenditure
- Revision of agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to eliminate capacity charges and payments in dollars
- Abolition of illegal taxes on agriculture and industry, with a 50% reduction in the tax burden
- Promotion of industry, trade, and investment to create employment opportunities for the youth
- Removal of taxes on the salaried class and inclusion of the privileged class in the tax net
Impact on twin cities
Despite the ongoing protests, normalcy has been largely restored in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, with traffic resuming on Faizabad and Expressway.
However, traffic flow remains affected at the protest site. As a precautionary measure, the administration has suspended the Rawalpindi-Islamabad metro bus service.
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