Govt forms technical committee after first round of talks with JI,
RAWALPINDI: JI’s Protest Against Power Bills, Taxes Continues, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) will continue the ongoing anti-inflation sit-in in Rawalpindi, the party’s Naib Emir Liaqat Baloch announced on Sunday after holding the first round of talks with the government.
The first round of negotiations between the government and Jamaat-e-Islami concluded on Sunday with the government agreeing to release 35 arrested workers. A three-member delegation including Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Amir Muqam, and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry met the JI negotiation committee at the Rawalpindi commissioner’s office amid mounting pressure on the government as the Rawalpindi sit-in entered its third day.
Jamaat-e-Islami leader Liaquat Baloch said on Sunday that negotiations were held with the government team in a good environment.
Talking to the media after the talks, Baloch said, the government would form a technical committee to consider the JI demands.
“The JI sit-in against inflated power bills has been ongoing since July 26. The government contacted us regarding the sit-in. We have made our agenda clear during the meeting,” said Baloch.
“The purpose of the sit-in is not personal; it is difficult for the public to pay electricity bills. Taxes have been imposed on the salaried class, and IPPs have become a menace that is a death warrant for the national economy,” he added.
The Jamaat-e-Islami leader mentioned that except for China, there were no international agreements. He said that the government’s negotiating committee noted all the issues. The sit-in and protest will continue till the acceptance of the demands, he added.
“The ball is in the government’s court,” concludes Baloch.
Our vision is to let Pakistan progress, and a subsidy has already been provided to consumers using up to 200 units,” Ata Tarar says .
The federal minister mentioned that Bilawal Bhutto had promised 300 free units, while the government talked about 200 free units. In Balochistan, 38,000 solar tube wells have started to be installed, and relief will be provided across Pakistan through solar tube wells, he mentioned.
Amir Muqam stated, “What Jamaat-e-Islami wants is also desired by the 240 million people of Pakistan. If someone has Rs100 and the demand is Rs200, we need to consider this. We appreciate Jamaat-e-Islami’s wishes, but the government has to make decisions based on the situation.”
He further said that the government’s technical committee would review Jamaat-e-Islami’s demands. We have to manage matters within our means, and we hope the sit-in will end, he concluded.
JI Threatens Month-Long Sit-in if Demands Not Met: Hafiz Naeem
Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that reducing the burden on domestic consumers is also a priority of the government.
“We request Jamaat-e-Islami to open the road, as the road blockade is affecting people. We hope for improvement in the next round of negotiations, he maintained.
