Jamaat-e-Islami Intensifies Protests in Islamabad and Rawalpindi: Calls for Relief on Electricity Prices and Taxes

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) continues its protest in Islamabad and Rawalpindi for the second day, demanding reduced electricity prices and tax relief for the salaried class. Police stopped the initial rally, leading to sit-ins at multiple locations. JI Chief Hafiz Naeem insists protests will persist until demands are met and calls for renegotiations with IPPs.

Pakistan’s rightwing Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) escalated its protests in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Saturday, marking the second day of their sit-in demanding reduced electricity prices and tax relief for the salaried class.

Despite police intervention stopping the initial rally at D-Chowk, the party swiftly changed its plans, organizing sit-ins at multiple points including Murree Road and Chungi No 22 in Rawalpindi and H-8 Bridge Islamabad.

Addressing the protestors, JI chief Hafiz Naeem reiterated the party’s demands, emphasizing that the sit-in would continue until their calls for relief were addressed. Naeem also called for renegotiations with the Independent Power Producers (IPPs), placing the burden of rising electricity bills on these power companies.

While maintaining the peaceful nature of the protests, Naeem alleged the arrests of dozens of workers and demanded their immediate release, seeking a dialogue committee from the government to resolve the issues.