JI Postpones Sit-In After Reaching Agreement with the Govt
The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has announced a temporary deferment of its nearly two-week-long protest sit-in following successful negotiations with the government. The protest, which was initially organized to demand a reduction in the high power tariff and a review of agreements with independent power producers (IPPs), was called off late Thursday after the conclusion of the fifth round of talks between the JI leadership and the government’s negotiation team at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi.
JI Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman made the announcement, emphasizing that the sit-in is being “deferred and not ended.” He warned that if the government fails to implement the agreed-upon demands, the party is prepared to resume the sit-in. Rehman also indicated that a formal announcement regarding the protest’s deferment would be made at a rally on Islamabad Highway today (Friday), where the party’s future course of action would be outlined.
The protest sit-in was originally organized in response to widespread public discontent over soaring electricity bills, which many attribute to burdensome capacity payments to IPPs. The JI’s demands included slashing the power tariff and imposing taxes on large landowners while reducing the tax burden on the salaried class.
What are JI’s demands?
- Abolition of Petroleum Development Levy on all petroleum products and withdrawal of latest increase in prices of these products.
- 20% reduction in prices of food commodities, electricity and gas tariffs.
- Renegotiation of agreements with independent power producers (IPPs)
- End clause of agreement with IPPs on making payments in US dollars.
- 50% discount should be granted to power consumers of 500 units
- Reduction in taxes on agriculture and industrial sectors besides decreasing their financial burden by 50%
- Ensure incentives to industrial sector, trade and investment to provide employment to youth.
- Withdrawal of increase in taxes on the salaried class and imposition of taxes on the privileged class.
- Cut in non-development expenses by 35%.
- Withdrawal of all taxes on stationery and other items used in education and training of children.
Key Agreements Reached
Deputy Emir of JI, Liaquat Baloch, addressed the sit-in participants, highlighting the key outcomes of the negotiations. The government, represented by Information Minister Ataullah Tarar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, agreed to several of JI’s demands:
- The government agreed to scrutinize the agreements with independent power producers, a significant source of the high electricity tariffs. A task force will be established to conduct this review and will present its findings to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif within a month.
- The government consented to impose income taxes on landowners and agreed to reduce the tax burden on the salaried class gradually.
- A phased reduction in electricity tariffs will be implemented over the next one and a half months, with a commitment from the government to slash power bills at all costs.
- A committee will be constituted to address the concerns of traders, with ongoing meetings planned between government representatives and JI to monitor the implementation of these agreements.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi assured the public that the power tariff will be scaled down soon, emphasizing the government’s commitment to providing relief. He reiterated that all efforts are being made to ensure that the reduction in tariffs will be evident to consumers.
Information Minister Ataullah Tarar also echoed this sentiment, noting that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the government to prioritize relief for the public. Tarar highlighted that the government had already provided a subsidy of Rs50 billion to consumers using up to 200 units of electricity.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, addressing the ongoing public outcry over high electricity prices, emphasized that the coalition government’s agenda is to reduce electricity bills. He urged that the issue should not be politicized, even as protests against the high cost of power continue in various parts of the country. “We do not believe in politics for the sake of politics,” the prime minister remarked during a cabinet meeting in Islamabad, stressing the government’s focus on delivering relief to the people.
While the deferment of the JI’s protest sit-in marks a temporary easing of tensions, the situation remains fluid. The JI leadership has made it clear that they will closely monitor the government’s actions and are prepared to reignite their protest if their demands are not fully met. The government’s ability to deliver on its promises, particularly in reducing electricity tariffs and addressing the economic burdens on citizens, will be crucial in determining whether this period of relative calm can be sustained.
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