• Party warns of nationwide wheel-jam strike if demands face delays; says protests will continue alongside negotiations
• Hafiz Naeem claims demonstrations forced cuts in power, fuel prices; announces 50 million-signature campaign for economic relief

ISLAMABAD: Formal negotiations between the government and Jamaat-i-Islami will begin on Monday, the party’s chief announced on Saturday, while warning that JI will launch a nationwide “wheel-jam” strike if the administration delays approving public demands for economic relief.

Addressing a news conference in the federal capital alongside JI deputy chief Mian Muhammad Aslam and Islamabad Emir Nasrullah Randhawa, JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman stated that sit-in protests across the country will continue simultaneously with the talks.

Mr Rehman levelled severe criticism at the current administration and bureaucracy, describing the government as an unconstitutional “Form-47 arrangement” that imposes the burden of its inefficiency and extravagances on the public through heavy taxation.

Highlighting that JI’s protests have completed 21 days with active sit-ins at dozens of locations—including 20 sites in Balochistan and Swat—he maintained that public pressure forced electricity prices down by Rs10 to Rs12 per unit.

He said the protests also saved the national exchequer Rs4,300 billion in negotiations with independent power producers and prevented petrol prices from surging higher.

Addressing the national economic crisis, Mr Rehman noted that Pakistan’s total debt has reached Rs110,000bn, with annual interest payments standing at Rs8,000bn. He argued that a 3pc cut in the central bank’s policy rate would eliminate the need for the petroleum levy altogether.

Criticising systemic corruption, Mr Rehman pointed out Rs1,300bn in annual losses due to Federal Board of Revenue incompetence and condemned ongoing payments to re-gasification plants even when liquefied natural gas is not supplied.

The JI chief also drew attention to governance failures in social sectors, citing recent incidents at Pims and a 50 per cent failure rate in Punjab province’s ninth-grade exams.

Mr Rehman criticised the key political parties of Sindh, describing them as opportunistic.

He said they have left the real issues of Karachi unaddressed, adding that these grievances are driving the residents of that city to demand a separate province.

Announcing future plans, Mr Rehman stated that JI will launch a signature campaign targeting 50 million citizens to push for structural relief, local body governance and a reduction in bread prices to Rs10.

Reaffirming support for peaceful democratic protests, including those by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, he vowed that JI would keep up public pressure until concrete economic relief is delivered.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2026