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amaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman reiterated to expand the protest and sit-in nationwide, if their due rights were not granted.

Addressing participants of the sit-in in Rawalpindi, Hafiz Naeem demanded the government to take their demands seriously and reduce electricity bills and close independent power producers (IPPs).

He shared the ordeal faced by the salaried class, saying the salaried class was already paying taxes, overinflated electricity bills, and facing inflation.

He invited everyone to become a part of a peaceful political movement. He assured the government to take their movement seriously, they were only demanding their due rights. He reiterated that the burden of heavy taxes on the salaried class wasn’t acceptable.

He emphasised the government to take austerity measures and abolish corruption that would reduce the crisis of inflation and overbilling.

He also called on the government to bring feudal in the tax net and argued why some quarters escaped from tax and provided relief. Tax should be imposed on feudal instead of salaried class, JI emir insisted.

Electricity crisis was compelling industries to wind up. He highlighted the consequences of exacerbated electricity prices making the cost of business unaffordable.

Rifts were emerging among government, institutions and public, Hafiz Naeem stressed.

He also revealed that the movement Haq do Awaam ko will expand nationwide after the successful conclusion of the sit-in when demands would be met.

JI has also announced to hold a march at Murree road today for their demands.

The JI sit-in entered the 14th day today amid a stalemate and decided to continue the sit-in until demands were met.

TALKS WITH GOVERNMENT

Yesterday, talks were held between the Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah and the JI leadership.

“The round of negotiations has been adjourned until Thursday, " he said , adding “even today there has been a lot of progress in the negotiations”.

The minister informed that many issues have been agreed during the negotiations, and more issues are to be agreed upon. “A task force has been set up to look into the issues of IPPs”, he added.

The minister further said that JI workers arrested in Sialkot have been released. He repeated that a subsidy of Rs 50 billion has been given to electricity consumers using up to 200 units for three months of June, July and August.

Liaqat Baloch, JI’s vice chief said that JI presented its detailed position to the government. “No disagreement was expressed with our demands,” he added.

JI has demanded to close the independent power producers (IPP), and freeze assets of those who had agreements with IPPs.