Protests Set to Begin in Karachi, Followed by Lahore and Multan
The Jamat-e-Islami (JI) party, led by Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, is launching nationwide demonstrations to protest against rising electricity bills and inflation. This action targets the government’s agreements with independent power producers (IPPs), which have led to surging electricity costs.
Phase One: Sit-in at Karachi Governor’s House
Hafiz Naeem, speaking at a sit-in on Rawalpindi’s Murree Road, outlined the party’s plan. The first phase involves a sit-in at the Karachi Governor’s House, to be followed by protests in Lahore and Multan.
A Two-Day Ultimatum and Extended Protests
This announcement follows Hafiz Naeem’s warning that the protests would escalate if the government did not meet the party’s demands. The current sit-in has entered its fifth day after government representatives failed to attend the second round of talks on Monday.
Government Negotiations and JI’s Demands
On Sunday, a delegation including Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Amir Muqam, and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry met with the JI negotiation committee, led by Liaquat Baloch, at the Rawalpindi commissioner’s office. The discussions aimed to find a resolution to the ongoing protests.
JI has laid out ten demands, including:
- Abolishing the Petroleum Development Levy on all petroleum products.
- Reversing the latest price increases for petroleum products.
- Reducing prices of food commodities, electricity, and gas by 20%.
- Renegotiating agreements with IPPs to lower electricity costs.
- Eliminating the clause in IPP agreements that mandates payments in US dollars.
- Providing a 50% discount on electricity bills for consumers using up to 500 units.
- Reducing taxes on agriculture and industry by 50% and lessening their financial burdens.
- Offering incentives to the industrial sector to create jobs for the youth.
- Rolling back tax increases on salaried individuals and imposing taxes on the privileged class.
- Cutting non-development expenses by 35% and removing taxes on educational stationery and other items.
Criticism of Government Policies
In Rawalpindi, Hafiz Naeem criticized the government for its handling of inflation, which he claims is forcing businesses to shut down. He demanded a reduction in electricity prices and an audit of IPPs, giving the government a two-day deadline to meet these demands.
Echoing the emir’s sentiments, JI Karachi Chief Munem Zafar called for an end to agreements with IPPs and K-Electric, Karachi’s main electricity provider.
Government Response and Potential Solutions
In response to the protests, the government has shown willingness to address the IPP issue. Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr. Musadik Malik, speaking on Geo News’ “Capital Talk,” expressed optimism about finding a resolution in negotiations with JI.
Malik hinted at possible reductions in electricity prices, noting that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed multiple committees to alleviate the financial burden on citizens. He stated that the government plans to cover the additional electricity costs for 86% of residential homes and has already allocated Rs50 billion for this purpose.