JI rejects government request to end sit-ins

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has rejected the government’s request to call off its ongoing sit-ins, saying protests will continue alongside negotiations.

A delegation of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) met JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman at Mansoora in Lahore. Speaking at a joint press conference after the meeting, Hafiz Naeem said the government had requested the party to postpone its sit-ins.

“We told them that the sit-ins will continue and talks will also continue,” he said. He added that JI had formed a committee led by Liaquat Baloch to hold negotiations with the government.

Hafiz Naeem said JI had been holding sit-ins at around 30 locations across the country for the past 19 days. He said the party had no desire to inconvenience the public but was protesting because of the problems faced by ordinary citizens.

He claimed that poverty had increased by 33% over the past six years and that, according to a government report, more than 40% of the population was living below the poverty line.

He also criticised taxes on petroleum products, saying a motorcyclist was effectively paying around 35% in taxes on every litre of petrol. He further claimed that consumers were being forced to pay electricity bills for power that was not even generated.

The JI chief said the party would “jam the system of corruption and looting” and that the government would eventually have to retreat from its position.

Hafiz Naeem criticised the petroleum levy, saying it had been increased instead of being suspended. He claimed that around Rs8 trillion had been collected through the levy since its introduction and said the government had collected more than its target amount this year.

He said rising inflation had made life extremely difficult for people. Reducing petrol prices, ending the petroleum levy, lowering electricity costs, addressing issues related to independent power producers (IPPs), and reducing the price of bread were among JI’s key demands.

“The petroleum levy should be abolished and petrol prices should also be reduced,” he said.

Hafiz Naeem also questioned capacity payments being charged for regasification plants and said consumers had continued to pay the petroleum levy even during wartime conditions.

Rejecting criticism over the protests, he said, “No one should teach us patriotism. Stop distributing certificates of treason.”

He said complete strikes had been observed in several cities and reiterated that the sit-ins would continue while negotiations with the government proceeded.

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said the government also wanted to provide relief to the public and had formed a team for the purpose.

He invited JI to submit proposals that could help reduce the burden of petrol prices on citizens. Iqbal thanked Hafiz Naeem for listening to the government’s position in a constructive manner.

Hafiz Naeem, however, said the protests would continue until the price of petrol was brought down to Rs225 per litre.

Ahsan Iqbal said the government did not want the current situation to develop in a way that could benefit Pakistan’s enemies. He stressed the need for all sides to work together to maintain internal peace.

During the press conference, Hafiz Naeem handed the microphone to senior PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah, jokingly saying, “Rana sahib, you have said so much already, say a little more.”

Rana Sanaullah said Hafiz Naeem had indicated that JI possessed proposals capable of providing relief to the public. He assured that the government would consider and implement feasible proposals.