Pakistan’s JI Party sit-in enters second day as party protests electricity tariff and tax hike

Pakistan’s right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Saturday vowed to continue protests in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi as sit-ins to pressure the government to cut electricity tariffs and taxes for salaried workers entered a second day.

The party on Saturday for the second day staged a protest rally at D-Chowk in Islamabad.

However, JI’s movement was thwarted by police, and the party later changed its plans and announced sit-ins at three other locations, including Murli Road and Chungi No. 22 in Rawalpindi, and H-8 Bridge in Islamabad.

JI leader Hafiz Naeem, addressing protesters camped along Murli Road, the main artery connecting the garrison city with Islamabad, vowed to continue the sit-in until their demands were met.

“Our demand is simple, we want the government to provide relief to the people,” he said, adding that the party was aware of the difficulties but was confident that the electricity bill issue could be resolved.

He said the protests would continue until their main demands were met, detailing that renegotiations be held with the Independent Power Producers (IPPs), a group of power companies blamed for the exorbitant hike in electricity tariffs.

Naeem also said he was ready to hold talks with the government if it showed seriousness in addressing the issues raised by JI. He said the government should first set up a committee for such talks.

He also announced that he would address a massive rally at Murree Road on Sunday evening and asked people from all walks of life to attend as his party is fighting for people’s rights.

JI is one of India’s oldest political parties and is known for holding large-scale protests. So far, the protests have been peaceful, but Naeem claimed that dozens of party members have been arrested and demanded their immediate release. PTI SH PY Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters also demonstrated across the country, with hundreds of party members arrested on Friday. They were protesting against rising electricity prices and demanding the release of former prime minister Imran Khan.

The main opposition PTI was unable to hold highly publicised protests in the capital due to a government ban on gatherings, but its ally JI defied the ban and held protests, claiming that police arrested several of its workers.

In Lahore, more than 150 activists from both parties were arrested by Punjab law enforcement agencies.