JI plans to march towards Murree road amid inflation protest

RAWALPINDI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has decided to march towards Murree Road as part of its ongoing protest against inflation, especially the rising electricity costs.

The party, staging a sit-in in Rawalpindi, completed the fourth round of its “confidential” talks with the government, though no concrete resolution was reached.

JI Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch announced at a press conference on Wednesday that the party’s march will commence at 6 pm on Thursday.

Moreover, he emphasized that the sit-in is intended to relieve the public and is organized to reflect their demands. Baloch stated that while feedback from the government on the JI’s six-point demands has been received, no significant progress has been made yet.

Additionally, the JI’s ongoing protest calls for revisions to tax rates, a review of agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), and reductions in electricity and fuel prices to ease the burden on inflation-affected citizens.

Despite three previous rounds of talks between the government and the JI delegation, led by Baloch, no breakthroughs have been reported.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar acknowledged that some progress had been made and issues were being decided.

He mentioned that a new round of talks would occur on Thursday and noted that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is addressing JI’s demands, including a task force to review IPP agreements.

Tarar added that the government is committed to reducing electricity prices, citing an Rs50 billion subsidy for consumers using up to 200 units of electricity over the summer months.

Tarar also stated that the government would facilitate JI’s march and confirmed the release of JI workers arrested in Sialkot.