Govt makes first formal contact with JI as sit-in enters second day

As Jamaat-e-Islami’s sit-in at Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh enters second day, the government has made its first formal contact with the party for talks.

The contact was made by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi via telephone with JI Vice Emir Liaquat Baloch to discuss the party’s demands.

The party is protesting against soaring inflation and exorbitant electricity bills.

It claimed that at least 1,150 of its workers were arrested while trying to march towards Islamabad, violating Section 144 in the federal capital and across Punjab.

The party workers and activists, however, were later released in the day as confirmed by Baloch.

Various arteries within the twin cities remained blocked, leading to widespread traffic disruptions.

According to Geo News, Naqvi and Baloch discussed the party’s demand seeking abolishment of the “slab system” in electricity bills — which provisions different per-unit rates for users in accordance with their usage — and called for a 50% reduction in electricity bills of people using 500 units of electricity.

Moreover, Baloch also called on the Centre to withdraw the taxes imposed on the salaried class.

The JI leader also asked the government to abolish the petroleum levy and take back the recent hike in fuel prices.

Apart from that, JI Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman in his address on Saturday called on the Punjab government to release their activists and withdraw the cases filed against them.

“Fascism and talks cannot go hand in hand,” he said.

Speaking on the issue of negotiations with the government, the JI chief said that the party has reservations about the names that have come from the government side.