JI to continue nationwide protests

JI to continue nationwide protests

LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch has announced that the party will continue its sit-ins, protest demonstrations and public gatherings across the country as it presses the government to address issues raised by the party.

In a statement issued from Lahore, Liaquat Baloch said the JI would not suspend its protest campaign merely because negotiations with the government were underway. He said the party would continue its political and public mobilisation while pursuing a dialogue with the government to seek solutions to matters affecting the people.

Liaquat Baloch said the next meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Jamaat-e-Islami negotiating committee would take place in Islamabad on September 7. He said the upcoming meeting would provide another opportunity for both sides to discuss the party’s demands and assess progress on the issues raised during previous discussions.

The JI leader said the party had nominated Inayatullah, Farasat Ali, Ziauddin, Nasrullah Randhawa and Naveed Ali to represent it on the negotiating committee. He said the committee would present the party’s position during talks and seek concrete steps from the government rather than relying solely on assurances.

Liaquat Baloch stressed that the government now carries the responsibility of determining how seriously it wants to address the situation. He said the pace of progress would depend on the government’s willingness to engage with the JI’s concerns and take practical measures to resolve them.

He maintained that the party’s protest campaign and negotiations could continue simultaneously. According to him, the JI would keep organising sit-ins and public gatherings until it sees meaningful progress on the issues it has highlighted.

The JI deputy emir said the party’s protests focus on public concerns and economic difficulties rather than personal or political interests. He added that the sit-ins provide citizens with a platform to raise their concerns and demand action on matters that directly affect their daily lives.

Liaquat Baloch also indicated that the party would closely monitor the government’s response following the September 7 meeting. If the talks produce tangible progress, the JI would assess the situation accordingly, while the party would retain its right to continue peaceful political activity if its concerns remain unresolved.

He reiterated that Jamaat-e-Islami would pursue its demands through democratic and peaceful means and continue engaging with the government through negotiations. However, he made it clear that the continuation of dialogue would not automatically bring the party’s nationwide protest campaign to an end.