Rawalpindi: Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has declared that if their demands are not met, the ongoing protest could escalate into a government-toppling movement. He assured that there is no deadlock in the negotiation process from their side.
Speaking at a press conference alongside other party leaders at Liaquat Bagh on Murree Road, Hafiz Naeem stated that discussions have taken place with the government’s technical team, and a new plan of action will be announced in two days. He indicated that the party might approach the Supreme Court regarding the IPP (Independent Power Producers) issue to uncover the truth, urging for media transparency in the negotiations.
Hafiz Naeem urged the government to resolve the issues within the next two days, warning that the party will take all the actions previously announced if the situation does not improve. He stressed that Jamaat-e-Islami’s demands are legitimate and emphasized the need for the government to address these demands, including reducing electricity prices. He called for transparency in electricity purchase agreements to clarify the situation.
The Jamaat-e-Islami leader also demanded a forensic audit of problematic IPP agreements and called for the termination of agreements with expired terms. He stated that until these agreements are reviewed, the protest will continue. Hafiz Naeem criticized the Prime Minister and Finance Minister, questioning their commitment to reducing their own luxuries and expenditures. He demanded that electricity prices be aligned with production costs and called for a gradual reduction in interest rates. The government’s continuous borrowing from its own banks, according to him, reflects poor governance.