Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Monday warned the government his party can shut down the entire country if its demands for lower electricity tariffs and a review of agreements with independent power producers (IPPs) remain unfulfilled.
Addressing participants of the JI sit-in at Rawalpindi’s Murree Road—now entering its second week—he directed them to be ready to advance their demonstrations if necessary. “Are you ready to barge into the Prime Minister’s House?” he questioned, warning the government to take notice of the JI’s demands or the party and its supporters would march on Islamabad.
Naeem said the JI would hold a march on Aug. 7 or Aug. 8, adding a final date would be determined by the party shortly. He lamented that the team designated by the government to negotiate with the JI had not responded to its demands.
Stressing that the JI would not backtrack from its demands, he said the party also wanted the reversal of all taxes imposed on flour, sugar and baby milk powder. In a direct message to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, he referred to the protests in Bangladesh that led to the ouster of former prime minister Hasina Wajed, questioning: “What would happen if a helicopter could not arrive for you?” Alleging that Hasina had ruled by force, he said the events witnessed in Bangladesh were beyond imagination.
Since launching its protest last month, the JI has been demanding reversals of taxes imposed in the federal budget, especially on the salaried class, as well as a reduction in utility bills. The government has been engaging with the party’s representatives but has yet to make any headway in resolving the protest.