Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman criticizes the government for its handling of electricity bills, asserting that the increased burden has severely impacted the middle class and traders
RAWALPINDI: Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JI) ongoing protest against rising electricity prices, steep taxes, and inflation has entered its 10th day at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi. Despite favorable weather conditions, the protesters remain resolute, with the event featuring a community breakfast of naan and hot halwa. Negotiations between JI and government representatives have thus far failed to yield a resolution, and Deputy Amir Liaqat Baloch is expected to outline the party’s next steps in an upcoming press conference.
The party has pledged to continue the sit-in until their demands are met and is considering expanding the protest to a nationwide scale. Currently, one side of Murree Road remains open to traffic, and local businesses operate normally. JI had previously postponed a planned sit-in at D-Chowk in Islamabad from August 2 to July 26 in response to requests from Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and considerations related to Ashura observances.
JI leader Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, during a recent press conference in Lahore, explained that the rescheduling was due to a need to respect Ashura and address security concerns. He criticized the government for its handling of electricity bills, asserting that the increased burden has severely impacted the middle class and traders.
Rehman highlighted the recent rise in commercial electricity rates by Rs8 per unit as exacerbating economic strain and questioned the possibility of improvement under such conditions. In place of the sit-in, JI plans to conduct protests and set up camps in cities nationwide on July 12, with further sit-ins scheduled for July 14. On July 24, convoys from various cities will proceed to Islamabad as part of the party’s expanded protest strategy.
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