In a lengthy post on Linkedin Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Hafiz Naeem explains the purpose of nationwide protests by JI.
He wrote: ‘The stark divide between the rich elite and the masses is truly shocking. While the salaried class pays over 368 billion rupees in taxes annually, feudal landlords contribute a mere 4 billion.
The elite earn billions from power plants without generating a single unit of electricity, while ordinary citizens are forced to take loans to pay their excessive electricity bills. This system cannot endure. Our longstanding concerns about IPP agreements have now been substantiated and widely acknowledged.
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In the four days leading up to our Dharna, I engaged with industrialists and business leaders in four major cities across the country and addressed bar councils. The consensus is clear: the government’s policies have led to widespread disappointment. Industries are shutting down, the tax burden on the salaried class is escalating, and inflation is crippling the populace. This oppressive taxation system is unsustainable. The fabricated fiscal indicators presented by Shahbaz and Bilawal’s government cannot foster genuine development in our nation.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s sit-in has become the rallying cry of Pakistan. Our demands are the demands of the people. The electricity tariff must be reduced, IPPs must be held accountable, and the unjust tax burden on the salaried class must be alleviated.
Pakistan belongs to all of us, and only through collective effort can we preserve its integrity and prosperity.’
Hafiz Naeem criticized the government for the skyrocketing inflation, saying current policies are causing businesses to close. He demanded reduced electricity prices and an audit of the IPPs, giving the government a two-day ultimatum to meet their demands. He emphasized that the protest would not end until their demands were met.
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JI Karachi Chief Munem Zafar echoed these demands, calling for an end to agreements with IPPs and K-Electric, Karachi’s primary electricity provider.
In response to the ongoing protest, the government expressed hope for a resolution regarding the IPPs issue with the JI. Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr. Musadik Malik, speaking on Geo News’ “Capital Talk” on Monday, mentioned that the government would likely reach a solution in negotiations with the Hafiz Naeem-led party regarding the IPP agreements. He noted that electricity prices are expected to be reduced in the coming days and highlighted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted multiple committees to ease the burden on the poor, with the government bearing the additional electricity bill expense for 86% of residential houses in the country, amounting to Rs50 billion.