JI convoy enters Islamabad defying section 144

ISLAMABAD: Police on Friday arrested several Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) workers ahead of their planned sit-in against inflation, taxes, and electricity bills at D-Chowk.

Hafiz Naeem arrived at the Islamabad Expressway sit-in to address the participants.

In his speech at the sit-in, Hafiz Naeem stated, “Our sit-in has commenced. We have one demand from the government: provide relief to the public and shut down the IPPs.”

He further said that people are paying bills by selling their household items. They want to get rid of IPPs, who are sucking people’s blood, he added.

Hafiz Naeem said that the government should not obstruct the sit-in as the Jamaat-e-Islami is a peaceful party.

He accused authorities of a crackdown on its members in various cities ahead of a planned sit-in.

Authorities have blocked roads leading from Rawalpindi to the federal capital due to Jamaat-e-Islami’s sit-in today.

Red Zone and roads leading from Rawalpindi to Islamabad have been blocked by placing containers as the Jamaat-e-Islami and PTI had given calls of sit-in and protest, respectively.

Metro bus service has also been stopped in Rawalpindi due to which the passengers are facing severe problems.

The local administration said that in view of the protest, Metrobus service has also been stopped in Islamabad, which was stopped from IJP to Pak Secretariat.

At Faizabad, the route to Rawalpindi has been blocked with containers. Containers have also been placed at Chandni Chowk and Sixth Road.