Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Sunday announced his party will stage nationwide protests on Jan. 31 (Friday) against hefty electricity bills.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi, he said the government did not appear interested in passing on benefits of revised and cancelled agreements with independent power producers to the general public. “The JI is going to renew its agitation campaign against the government with more force and resolute,” he vowed, adding he would announce the future court of action on Jan. 31.
Claiming the government had renegotiated agreements with several IPPs as a result of the JI’s previous demonstration, he said authorities must inform the public what the impact of this revision was on electricity tariffs. “The government must reduce the prices of electricity and amend its policies to favor the poor,” he said, reiterating calls for a reduction to the power tariff, lower taxes, lower petroleum tariffs, and relief for the salaried class.
During his media interaction, Rehman also condemned all political parties who had supported a 140 percent hike to salaries of parliamentarians, stressing that 40 percent of the population still lived below the poverty line. “All of them—the PPP, PMLN, PTI—voted for the extraordinary rise in their salaries but they did nothing for the salaried class,” he lamented, noting salaried individuals had paid Rs. 243 billion in taxes in the first six months of the current fiscal year.
The JI chief also opposed amendments to Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act law. Maintaining no one supported fake news, he warned the legislation sought to suppress political dissent through fascism. He said the JI supported the media fraternity.
To questions, Rehman said the JI wanted a judicial commission on the Feb. 8 general elections but did not support any re-election. “We demand judicial decisions on the basis of Form-45s that is a constitutional and legal document,” he said.
The JI chief also discussed the unrest in Palestine, urging the federal government to resist all external pressures to recognize Israel and expand efforts to secure diplomatic support for Palestine and Kashmir.