By Musarrat Arif
KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Ameer, Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, issued a stern ultimatum to the government on Saturday, demanding the implementation of agreed-upon relief measures within 36 days. Speaking at a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq, the JI Karachi headquarters, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, flanked by JI Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar and other senior leaders, expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of economic issues, particularly the recent surge in electricity bills and inflation.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced that the JI, in collaboration with traders, would stage a nationwide strike on August 28 to protest against the hiked electricity bills and the persistent inflation that has burdened the masses. He noted that the Punjab government had already announced a relief of Rs28 per unit for electricity over the next two months, a move he attributed to the pressure exerted by the JI through continuous activism and public support. However, he emphasized that such relief measures must be implemented across the entire country, not just in Punjab.
The JI leader criticized the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)-led Sindh government, highlighting the province’s substantial budget of three trillion rupees, with Rs1885 billion contributed by the federal government. He argued that the Sindh government could easily allocate funds to provide similar relief to the province’s residents. He also reminded the PPP of its election promise to provide 100 units of free electricity, urging them to fulfill their commitment. Hafiz Naeemur Rehman took aim at all political parties, accusing them of being complicit in the ongoing economic challenges facing the country.
The JI chief particularly highlighted the issue of capacity charges, which he claimed were ignored by political parties because of their vested interests. Citing the example of the Mittiari-Lahore power transmission line, he revealed that Rs1450 billion had been paid in capacity charges, despite the project operating at only 37 percent capacity. He did not spare Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, criticizing his policies as detrimental to the nation’s businesses. He referenced the Prime Minister’s own admission that expensive electricity had rendered Pakistani producers uncompetitive in the global market.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman called on the Prime Minister to take decisive action to address the crises rather than making empty promises. Expressing solidarity with media workers, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman also highlighted their struggles with delayed salaries and the broader issue of gas load shedding, excessive tariffs, and what he described as illogical taxation policies.
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