First round of talks: govt announces release of JI workers

RAWALPINDI: Following the first round of talks held on Sunday, the government has decided to release all Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) workers who were arrested.

On Sunday, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch announced that the party will continue its ongoing anti-inflation sit-in in Rawalpindi, following the first round of talks with the government.

A three-member government delegation, comprising Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Amir Muqam, and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, met with the JI negotiating committee at the Rawalpindi Commissioner’s office. This meeting came as the sit-in, now in its third day, increased pressure on the government.

Read more: JI accepts government’s offer for talks

JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced on Saturday that the sit-in will persist for months if the government does not meet their demands.

While addressing the sit-in in Rawalpindi on Saturday night, the JI leader stated that if their demands regarding high electricity bills and rising taxes are not addressed, they will escalate their protest by staging a sit-in in front of the Parliament House.