KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar announced plans to escalate the ongoing sit-in on its sixth consecutive day, with over 1,000 demonstrations scheduled to take place outside mosques across Karachi on Friday. This decision follows a sustained sit-in outside the Sindh Governor House. The protests aim to press for the cancellation of contracts with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and demand immediate relief for the salaried class.
During a media briefing at the sit-in, Zafar outlined a broader campaign strategy that includes door-to-door outreach and awareness drives to mobilize more support. He emphasized JI’s commitment to fighting for the rights of the people, noting the party’s rising popularity, which he attributed to its advocacy for the public’s needs. Zafar pointed out that JI became the largest party in Karachi’s local government elections and secured over 800,000 votes in the general elections. The protest received backing from various sectors, including labourers and traders. The National Labour Federation (NLF) held a convention at the sit-in, where leaders expressed solidarity with JI’s demands. NLF General Secretary Taufiquddin Siddiqui criticized the current economic situation, which he claimed disproportionately affects lower and middle-income families, particularly the salaried class. He highlighted the disparity in tax contributions, noting that the salaried class paid Rs360 billion in taxes compared to Rs5 billion by feudal lords.
Siddiqui also criticized the performance of IPPs, revealing that out of 106 IPPs, none were operating at full capacity, with 85 percent running below 50 percent capacity. He claimed that three IPPs had received billions of rupees in capacity charges despite not generating any electricity. Labour leaders Khalid Khan and Zahid Askari urged continued resistance against perceived injustices and highlighted the need to address soaring gas and electricity bills.
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