Electricity bills: JI calls for nationwide strike on Sept 2

KANDHKOT: The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq has declared to approach the Supreme Court due to massive increase in electricity costs and bills.

According to insider reports, JI Chief, in his address during a protest against the surge in electricity bills in Kandhkot, announced that he would compel the government to reverse its decision to hike electricity bills through a nationwide strike scheduled for September 2.

“Jamaat-e-Islami is fully committed to making any necessary sacrifices for the welfare of the people,” Sirajul Haq stated.

2 ستمبر کو کراچی سے چترال تک پورے میں بجلی کی قیمتوں میں اضافے کے خلاف #ملک_گیرعوامی_ہڑتال ہوگی pic.twitter.com/qxcpCnAE1T

— Jamaat e Islami Pakistan (@JIPOfficial) August 30, 2023

Sources indicated that Sirajul Haq emphasised that the electricity bills were more than just an ordinary electricity bill – he likened it to a death warrant. He also pointed out that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) had entered into erroneous agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Read More: Sirajul Haq calls for exclusion of taxes from electricity bills

“The leaders of the PDM should publicly apologise to the nation for the harsh agreements they made with the IMF,” the JI chief asserted.

He further highlighted that the responsibility of increasing electricity bills does not fall upon the caretaker government. He further said that the cost of electricity per unit has escalated to PKR 56, with projections of further increases in the upcoming month.

Simultaneously, the JI chief remarked that the free electricity privilege, valued at PKR 200 billion, granted to ruling leaders should be discontinued. He also advocated for addressing line losses and curbing electricity theft.