RAWALPINDI: The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on Thursday gave a two-day deadline to the government to show interest in resolving issues, like inflation and termination of contracts with IPPs, or face a movement that may end in toppling the government.

Addressing a press conference on the seventh day of the sit-in at Liaquat Bagh along with the business community’s representative from Karachi, JI emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that the government was given two days to show progress on the demands.

“After two days, we will bring all the discussion in front of the people in the sit-in. If the demands are not met, this movement will turn into an anti-government movement,” he said.

“The government is trying to tell the people that the demands of the JI are not feasible, but we have given a plan of action to implement all the demands,” he said and added that it was the responsibility of the government to make it clear whether they would accept the demands or not.

Naeem warns of toppling govt if demands not heeded

He said that in negotiations with the government, the JI had made it clear that the government should review the agreements with IPPs. “We informed them to review contracts and if some agreements could be reviewed then change them.

If some are against the law and wrong then they should be terminated immediately and the culprits should be punished,” he said.

“Those who have looted the nation’s money as a result of these agreements should be punished. Why should people pay for expensive electricity and capacity charges?” he asked.

The JI chief said the elite class should end their luxurious lifestyle and explain the 25 per cent rise in government expenditure despite a fiscal crunch. He said that the ministers, advisers, and bureaucracy would have to stop using free petrol and electricity otherwise, the people would stop them.

The JI leader alleged that there was Rs1 billion per month of corruption in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). He said that we could go to D-Chowk but the JI would never take the path of confrontation as the country could not afford any conflict.

On the other hand, the business community’s representatives from Karachi said they were the representatives of all industries. “We are 80 per cent shareholder of the total industry of Pakistan and the highest employment is generated from their industry,” they claimed.

As the sit-in entered its seventh day, one track of Murree Road from Moti Mahal Plaza to Liaquat Bagh Chowk remained closed to traffic, which was being diverted to a single road from Committee Chowk to Marir Chowk. Due to this, the worst traffic jam was witnessed in the city.

Moreover, the Metro Bus Service resumed its operations but Liaquat Bagh Bus Station was still closed to commuters.

The metro buses skipped the station and people had to go to Marir Chowk or Committee Chowk to get the bus.

Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2024