RAWALPINDI: The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) emir has announced expansion of the protests against inflated power bills across the country, while also holding talks with the government.

The announcement came a day after JI’s delegation met the government committee, including federal ministers, to discuss their demands.

As JI’s protests at Murree Chowk, Rawalpindi, entered the fourth day on Monday, protesters, including a sizable number of women, sat through heavy rainfall as leaders addressed the crowd.

In his speech on Monday evening, JI emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman vowed not to end the protest unless their demands were accepted. He announced a sit-in outside the Governor House in Karachi in the first phase and similar demonstrations in Lahore, Peshawar and Multan in the coming days.

Hafiz Naeem announces sit-in outside Governor House in Karachi; says option of a demonstration at D-Chowk still open

The JI emir said if the government doesn’t demonstrate seriousness in meeting their demands, the protesters could move towards Islamabad and hold a sit-in at D Chowk outside the Parliament House.

“We are giving them two to three days,” Mr Rehman said while referring to the talks with the government. “After that, we will take decisive action.”

While talking to Dawn on Monday, JI’s vice emir Liaquat Baloch said the sit-in outside the Governor House in Karachi would begin on Wednesday.

“We are here at Liaquat Bagh. If the government is testing our patience … we are not in a hurry. We are peaceful people and will not end the dharna until our demands are met,” Mr Baloch vowed.

Talks with govt

Earlier on Sunday, federal ministers Ataullah Tarrar and Amir Muq­am, and PML-N MNA from Islamabad Tariq Fazal Chaudhary met JI Vice Emir Liaquat Baloch at the Commissioner’s Office in Rawalpindi.

The meeting ended with ministers assuring the JI leaders that they would respond to their demands after further deliberations.

The two sides also decided to hold another session of talks to discuss issues regarding electricity bills.

As a precursor to the talks, the government announced the release of all JI workers and supporters detained over the past three days. It also announced the formation of a technical committee, comprising the power minister, the ministry’s secretary and representatives from the Federal Board of Revenue and the Ministry of Finance, to discuss JI’s demands in detail.

Mr Tarar, a member of the governm­e­nt’s negotiation team, reportedly confir­med that the technical committee would meet JI’s leaders on Monday for further discussion, but no discussion could be held as the party remained busy with its public meeting of women workers.

Mr Baloch confirmed to Dawn on Monday that the government was yet to respond to JI’s demands.

“We are waiting for [their] response. The government committee assured a response after the technical committee completes its work on the issue.”

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2024