Rehman vowed that the protest efforts would continue to press the government to address the over billing issue, stating their protest to compel the authorities to retrieve the decision
LAHORE: In a press conference held on Tuesday, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), has urged the Sharif family to forgo capacity charges from their Independent Power Producers (IPPs) as a measure to reduce the soaring electricity bills that have been straining the nation’s economy and industrial sector.
Rehman criticized the IPPs, asserting that their financial burden is unsustainable for the public. He stated, “We cannot sustain the burden of these IPPs. If the Sharif family and the Mansha Group relinquish their annual capacity charges, it will lead to a decrease in electricity bills.” He emphasized the severe impact of high utility bills on the country’s economic health and industrial productivity.
The JI chief announced plans for a nationwide shutter-down strike, scheduled for tomorrow. He criticized the government’s response to high utility bills, arguing, “Tomorrow, we will have a nationwide shutter-down strike. We will not accept a tax of 30,000 rupees for some markets and 40,000 for others. The government says the strike will harm business, but the situation is already dire. The government itself is destroying the economy.”
Rehman vowed that the protest efforts would press the government to address the issue, stating, “Our protest efforts will compel the government to back down. If we do not receive relief, we will continue with strikes, consulting with traders to plan future actions. During tomorrow’s strike, we will devise a strategy for the ‘Give the People Their Rights’ campaign and engage in peaceful protest.” In addition to addressing economic concerns, Rehman expressed solidarity with the Baloch community. He condemned the violence in Balochistan, asserting, “We have raised our voices for the Balochs.
No one will be allowed to use the Baloch name to further India’s agenda. Those who are selectively killing people in Balochistan are not humans but beasts and terrorists. They are acting as pawns of foreign powers to weaken our country. We will not let their malicious intentions succeed.” The call for the waiver of capacity charges and the planned strike reflect the mounting public dissatisfaction with current economic policies and utility charges. The outcome of these actions and government responses will be closely watched as the situation develops.
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