Hafiz Naeem reiterates resolve to continue protest; first round of negotiations today

ISLAMABAD: Accepting the government’s offer during the ongoing sit-in in Rawalpindi, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has formed a four-member committee for negotiations.

The first round of negotiations will be held today. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar along with a government delegation including Tariq Fazal Chaudhary and others arrived at Liaquat Bagh at the JI sit-in.

Jamaat-e-Islami demands: Aims of the Islamabad protest

According to the JI spokesman, the government delegation requested the leadership of Jamaat-e-Islami to end the sit-in immediately, which the protesting party rejected. However, on the government’s offer, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has agreed to negotiate.

Talking to media on these developments, Hafiz Naeem said “No one wishes to leave their home and sit on the streets,” adding, “But when our rulers, parliament, and government agencies remain inactive, protest becomes our only option. The Constitution of Pakistan grants us the right to hold sit-ins, rallies, and protests.”

He expressed gratitude for media coverage of their protests and issued a heartfelt apology for any offense caused during their demonstrations.

JI accepts government’s offer for talks

He spoke on the crippling impact of soaring electricity bills, describing them as a “bomb” falling on the homes of 250 million people. He criticized the government’s minimum wage of Rs 37,000, challenging Prime Minsiter Shahbaz Sharif to devise a budget for an average household with that amount. “How will people pay their electricity bills and buy household rations with such a meager salary?” he questioned. “This will drive people towards theft and other wrongful means.”

He expressed concern about the doors being closed to students, poor farmers, and various social classes, urging lawyers and industrialists to join the movement. “Our demands are simple: reduce taxes and electricity bills. The people of Pakistan are burdened with unjust taxes, stifling the progress of agriculture and the entire economic system.”

Hafiz Naeem condemned the influence of landlords and capitalists on the nation’s fate and accused the government of hiding agreements from the public. He called for transparency regarding Independent Power Producers (IPPs), demanding that those with expired contracts be terminated and that information about compliant IPPs be made public. He claimed that a few families dominate the IPP sector, merely rotating names to maintain control.

Sit-in to continue for months if demands not met, warns JI’s Naeem

“If the people are forced to take matters into their own hands, anarchy will be inevitable,” he warned. “Every government has its own section running IPPs, with billions involved in corrupt practices.”

He also announced upcoming meetings, including a women’s sit-in. “I want to make it clear: Jamaat-e-Islami will not give up. We are here to stay.”