Multan: Jamaat-e-Islami calls nationwide strike on August 28

MULTAN: The central chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman announced a nationwide strike scheduled for August 28 to protest against soaring inflation on Friday.

Speaking at a rally in Multan, Rehman criticised the government for worsening inflation across Pakistan. He claimed it has become increasingly challenging for officials to address public grievances effectively.

Read more: Govt and JI strike deal for lower taxes and cut electricity rates

The JI chief condemned the government’s reliance on the International Monetary Fund (IMF), stating that Jamaat-e-Islami cannot accept what he described as the subjugation of 250 million people to IMF conditions.

He stated that the electricity bills, which have been a focal point of public discontent, are not akin to bombs but rather an issue that the party has attempted to address through multiple protests and educational efforts regarding independent power producers (IPPs).

Read more: Govt and JI strike deal for lower taxes and cut electricity rates

The Jamaat-e-Islami leader also addressed the crisis in the education sector. He pointed out that over 20 million children are out of school. Rehman argued that the actual cost of electricity was substantially lower than the charges being imposed.

HE attributed the high cost of bills to collusion between the government and “powerful interests”. He also claimed that businessmen were also troubled by the escalating costs of electricity.

The JI chief admonished the PML-N government’s failure to address the problem effectively, contrasting current policies with past promises. He referred to Nawaz Sharif’s recent announcement to cut electricity prices by Rs14 and questioned why Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif could not achieve similar results.

He accused previous governments, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), of failing to challenge the influence of IPPs and of allowing a few people to amass power.

Addressing the issue of tax, Rehman called out the elite, including landlords and large landowners, for evading taxes, while advocating for tax relief for the working class.

He pledged that Jamaat-e-Islami would continue to push for significant relief for all citizens and will not support IPPs. Naeem said that the party’s efforts were not merely symbolic but part of a broader commitment to reform.

Read more: JI stages sit-in outside CM house in Lahore

Naeem-ur-Rehman rallied supporters for a significant “long march” and said that the government could not evade accountability through agreements with Jamaat-e-Islami.

He stated that his party has upheld its agreements in the past and will continue to demand justice. He warned that failure to meet their demands would lead to a revolution and called for readiness to face potential sacrifices and imprisonment.

The nationwide strike on August 28 is intended as a strong reaction against the current economic policies and inflationary pressures.