RAWALPINDI: The second round of talks between Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and the government has not been held as yet.

On the other hand, as the sit-in at Liaquat Bagh entered its fifth day on Tuesday, miseries of the people in the garrison city multiplied due to traffic jam on Murree Road and adjoining roads.

Talking to newsmen, JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that the party workers would stage a sit-in on important highways in the next phase and the first in this regard would be held in front of Sindh Governor House on Wednesday (today).

He said the entire nation was suffering because of the ruling class’ incompetence.

He repeated the demand for forensic audit of Independent Power Providers’ (IPPs) contract.

He thanked the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan for supporting the sit-in and said that there were also contacts and meetings with the Tehreek-i-Tahaffuz-i-Ayeen-i- Pakistan.

He said the ‘Movement for the Protection of the Constitution’ was withdrawing from its Form 45 positions by talking about new elections, which showed they were confused.

He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif should announce that no minister and government official would use more than 1,300cc vehicles, which would save Rs350 billion.

He said people were paying the price for the luxuries of the ruling class in the form of bills and taxes.

He said the oppressive rulers had imposed tax of up to 18pc on basic food items like children’s milk.

“How can people pay bills and buy edibles with limited salaries,” he said.

He said the first agreement was signed with 35 IPPs during the tenure of PPP and then with 45 companies in the Musharraf era. Agreements were signed with another 120 companies during Nawaz Sharif’s time and 30 to 35 contracts were signed during the tenure of PTI, he added.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2024