Situation could turn akin to that in S Lanka or BD, warns JI chief

KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Monday stated that the masses are exasperated with the rising electricity bills and are seeking immediate relief.

Speaking at a protest sit-in outside Sindh Governor House in Karachi, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman cautioned the government that failure to address the nation’s demands could lead to a situation akin to that in Sri Lanka or Bangladesh.

“We do not seek confrontation, but we should not be compelled to follow the path of protesters in Sri Lanka or Bangladesh,” he said.

He urged the government to take swift action to resolve the issue and criticized the agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), claiming they are flawed and have resulted in significant losses to the national treasury. He called for the government to disclose the details of these agreements and to hold those responsible for the losses accountable.

The JI leader also announced plans to expand the protest movement nationwide. He demanded the immediate abolition of taxes on essential items like flour, sugar, and stationery to provide relief to the people.

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman also pointed out the contradictory statements from the government, the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and the Finance Minister, which he said are causing confusion among the public.

The JI presented a list of 10 demands and sought Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s guarantee on the ongoing negotiations, insisting that any agreement reached must bear the Prime Minister’s signature.

The demands include:

• Abolition of the Petroleum Development Levy
• A 20% reduction in the prices of food commodities, electricity, and gas tariffs
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• Renegotiation of agreements with IPPs, particularly the removal of the clause mandating payments in US dollars
• Reduction of taxes on the agriculture and industrial sectors
• Ensuring incentives for the industrial sector, trade, and investment
• Reversal of increased taxes on the salaried class and imposition of taxes on the privileged class
• A 35% cut in non-development expenses
• Removal of all taxes on stationery and other educational and training materials for children
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