The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Thursday announced the participants of its sit-in at Rawalpindi will march toward Murree Road at 6 p.m. today as part of its efforts to secure a reduction in utility bills and a reversal of taxes imposed in this year’s federal budget.
Speaking with media after concluding the fourth round of talks with the government on ending the sit-in, JI deputy chief Liaquat Baloch asserted that the sit-in’s sole aim was to ensure relief for the public. “We will go ahead with our march on Murree Road which will start at 6 p.m. on Thursday and we will inform media if any progress is made in talks with the government,” he said, adding the ongoing sit-in was peaceful, organized and in line with public demands.
To a question, he said his party had received feedback on its demands from the government negotiating team, adding they were informed of how authorities wish to address the prevailing issues. He said talks were progressing in a positive manner and stressed that the government had not disagreed with any of the points raised by the JI.
Reiterating the JI’s criticism of agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), which the party blames for high electricity tariffs, he said it was time to rethink the contracts and seek relief for the public. Additionally, he said, an investigation should be initiated to determine if any illegal benefits were availed under the agreements.
“Agreements with IPPs are creating more disaster for the national economy,” he claimed, regretting the salaried class was especially burdened with high taxes.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, who is part of the government’s negotiating team, said some issues had been resolved in writing, but a few remained pending. “We have reached consensus on some issues and some matters are to be decided,” he said, adding a fifth round of talks would take place on Friday.
Maintaining Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had already initiated measures to address the issues raised by the JI, he said a task force had been formed to review IPP agreements and seek avenues to reduce electricity bills. “Jamaat’s demands are on the government’s agenda,” he said, recalling a subsidy of Rs. 50 billion had been allocated for all consumers utilizing up to 200 units of electricity during June, July and August.
To a question on the JI’s planned march, Tarar said this was their right and the government would facilitate them.
The JI has been staging a sit-in at Rawalpindi for nearly two weeks, vowing it would continue until the government ensures relief for the general public.