RAWALPINDI: Jamaat-e-Islami emir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has issued a stark warning that protests will spread to Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta within two days if immediate demands on inflation are not met.
He stressed that the sit-ins would continue until their demands were met, even hinting at the possibility of a march to Islamabad’s D-Chowk.
Addressing a press conference at the ongoing session at Liaquat Bagh Chowk in Rawalpindi, Hafiz Naeem highlighted the protest, now in its fourth day, as a demonstration of public determination and resilience. He highlighted the burden of high electricity bills and the lack of government response to alleviate the problem.
He noted that a significant number of women would join the protest in Lahore despite obstacles, criticizing the government, which he described as ruled by a single family, for creating obstacles and making the situation worse.
Hafiz Naeem condemned unfair agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and revealed that 70 to 80 percent of IPPs are out of business due to contractual issues, with the government holding stakes in 52 percent of them.
He demanded a forensic audit of the IPP and the abolition of capacity charges, citing excessive taxes on the accounts. He insisted that electricity prices should be based on actual production costs.
There were calls to end government benefits and questioned why WAPDA officers and other officials were getting free electricity and fuel. Naeem suggested that the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and judges be restricted to 1300cc vehicles to reduce public burden, recalling former Prime Minister Junej’s precedent of 1000cc vehicles for all.
Naeem called for the removal of petrol levies and taxes on essential goods such as flour, sugar and pulses, which are crippling industry and causing unemployment. He called on all political parties to join their fight and advised supporters to focus on government actions rather than intra-party disputes.
He concluded by criticizing the government’s submission to IMF demands while ignoring their own extravagant spending, suggesting that dialogue with China could resolve issues amicably given China’s long-standing support for Pakistan.
