ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) leader Liaquat Baloch on Sunday said that the government will form a technical committee to resolve the power and tax hikes issues and complete their “internal workings” by tomorrow while the party’s ongoing sit-in at Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh will continue.
JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Saturday warned of expanding the party’s Rawalpindi sit-in to other areas across the country if the government failed to meet its demands regarding skyrocketing electricity bills and rising taxes.
As the protest entered its second day, Murree Road remained closed to traffic from Marrir Chowk to Committee Chowk, with containers placed on the artery that passes through the heart of the garrison city. As a result, business activities in the area were affected.
Under pressure from the JI, a government delegation led by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar engaged in talks with JI protesters on Saturday night. As a result, it was agreed that both sides were to hold a formal discussion on Sunday to address JI’s demands, according to the government.
After the negotiations, Baloch — while speaking to the media in Rawalpindi — said that a positive first round of talks was carried out with the government where his party had clarified their agenda.“This was also stated clearly that the protest was not a personal party agenda but it was [for] the issues of the people,” Baloch said.
He said that the government told them that their demands were noted and would form a technical committee to look into the protest’s demands.“If there’s a need to meet [the government] again, we will meet,” he said, adding that once the government’s internal working meeting was concluded tomorrow, the party will meet the technical committee.
Tarar confirmed that the government had formed a technical committee. While speaking to the media after the meeting, Tarar said that the government had ordered the release of a list of 35 prisoners provided by JI.
“The government has given orders for their immediate release and told them that none of their political workers will be arrested,” Tarar said, adding the orders had been issued in this regard.
Earlier, while addressing the sit-in on Sunday, Rehman thanked the protesters for their attendance and said that people hadn’t left their homes and opted to sit on the streets for nothing. “Power and tax hikes are not just a problem for Jamaat-i-Islami but for the entire country”, he said.
The party leader added that there was no way to resolve the issue other than political struggle within the bounds of the constitution, which he reiterated, that the protesters were upholding. “When Parliament and institutions are not working, it is our right to protest under the Constitution,” he said.
Addressing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the JI chief said, “Tell me how a common man can run his household with a minimum wage of Rs37,000. How will a poor man pay for electricity?”
He demanded that electricity bills be reduced and criticised independent power producers (IPPs), stating that their contracts were being “hidden from the people”. He also stated that the salaried class in Pakistan was “paying more taxes compared to India” and slammed the “landlords and capitalists” for making the decisions.
Rehman also appealed to people from all walks of life to join the protest. “Students, lawyers, businessmen and industrialists are welcome to be a part of this movement,” he said. “The poor of this country have one path and that is to be a part of the Jamaat-e-Islami’s protest.”