Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has decided to temporarily pause its nearly 14-day-long protest sit-in after successful negotiations with the government. The sit-in was focused on reducing high electricity bills and renegotiating agreements with independent power producers (IPPs).
The decision came late Thursday after the fifth round of talks with government representatives at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi. JI Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman announced, “We are deferring, not ending the sit-in,” and mentioned that the formal announcement would be made at a rally today.
Rehman warned that JI would resume the sit-in if the government fails to meet their demands. The party will hold a rally on the Islamabad highway today (Friday) to discuss the next steps.
The agreements with IPPs have been a major concern, as high electricity bills are blamed on the payments made to these producers. JI’s protest in Karachi and Rawalpindi aimed to address inflation and the costly agreements with IPPs.
Key Demands of JI:
- Remove the Petroleum Development Levy on all petroleum products and reverse recent price hikes.
- Reduce food, electricity, and gas prices by 20%.
- Renegotiate contracts with IPPs and remove the clause requiring payments in US dollars.
- Offer a 50% discount on electricity bills for consumers using 500 units or less.
- Cut taxes on agriculture and industry and reduce their financial burden by 50%.
- Provide incentives to boost employment in the industrial sector.
- Withdraw tax increases on salaried individuals and impose taxes on the wealthy.
- Cut non-development expenses by 35%.
- Remove all taxes on educational supplies.
JI Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch said that the government agreed to some demands, including imposing taxes on large landowners and reducing taxes on salaried individuals. A task force will be formed to review IPP agreements, and a report will be submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif within a month.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi assured that electricity prices would be reduced soon, adding, “We are committed to providing relief to the people.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently emphasized that the government’s priority is to lower electricity bills and urged that the issue not be politicized.