KARACHI: The Jamaat-i-Islami and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan were found in agreement on Monday when both parties in their separate press conferences demanded immediate relief for power consumers across the country and warned that if the government failed to cut electricity charges, it would “face the music” with protest from every nook and corner of the country.

Central leadership of the two parties called it unjustified to offer selective incentive to the people of only one province and deprive others of relief. The JI called for a strong protest if its demand’s went unheard and the MQM-P warned its ally PM Shehbaz Sharif of “anarchy” if the government didn’t move immediately to offer relief in power prices to other parts of the country.

Addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-i-Haq, JI chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman demanded the ruling elite to grant substantial relief to the nation or face the music as the party was going to observe a strike on August 28, he said and added that a mass mobilisation campaign was on cards, apart from the four major public conventions held in various cities during the past 11 days.

He said that the JI had signed a 45-day accord and only 34 days are left. He added that the JI will take the youth on-board during the days to come and caravans from each and every corner of the country will march towards Islamabad if the government didn’t fulfil the agreement in letter and spirit.

In separate press conferences, Hafiz Naeem and Farooq Sattar warn of strong protests if their demands are not met

He also highlighted the local bodies’ issues in Karachi and said that the Pakistan People Party’s government in Sindh had occupied all powers of the local government setup in open defiance of the Constitution of Pakistan. He said the Constitution clearly mentioned that administrative, monetary and political powers will be devolved to the local governments.

In his presser at Pakistan House, senior MQM-P leaders Dr Farooq Sattar and Amin ul Haq called the relief in electricity prices to Punjab only a discriminatory move which was aimed “political point scoring” instead easing the people’s woes.

Dr Sattar said Karachi paid the highest taxes which fuelled the engine of the country’s economy but when it came to relief, the authorities picked Punjab first. He said that despite share of 73 per cent in the national revenue, Karachi was lagging behind in every aspect of social and economic standards.

“We contribute 73 per cent in national revenue but here now when people talk about better infrastructure, social security and better law and order they look towards other cities of the country,” he said.

“Let me warn the ruling elite to take notice of the growing anger among the people due to this discrimination and injustice. The people of Karachi and Sindh are also entitled to Rs14 per unit of electricity relief. We are already paying Rs64 for per unit of electricity and there’s not a single penny’s discount for us,” he said.

Such bias would push the people to become criminals to make ends meet amid skyrocketing prices of electricity and growing inflation which had almost destroyed the lower middle class and pushed them below the poverty line.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2024