Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman Announces Nationwide Protests on January 17 for Reduction in Electricity Prices
Lahore (Web News)
Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami, has announced nationwide protests on January 17 for the reduction of electricity prices and the presentation of an upcoming course of action. Speaking at a press conference in Mansura alongside Secretary of Information Qaiser Sharif, Amir of Lahore Zia-ul-Din Ansari, former MNA Sahibzada Tariq Allah, and other late-arriving leadership, he stated that the class-based and exploitative system is draining the blood of the public.
He remarked that, according to the government, the termination of IPP agreements has resulted in a benefit of up to 1.5 trillion rupees to the national exchequer. However, he questioned why this benefit is not being passed on to the public in the form of lower electricity tariffs. He further stated that all governments have favored IPPs, giving billions of rupees to a few individuals even for not generating electricity, and granted tax exemptions to IPPs. He mentioned that before Jamaat-e-Islami’s protest, the government was not in favor of negotiating these agreements. Jamaat-e-Islami exerted pressure to force the government into negotiations, resulting in the termination of several agreements. However, despite the benefits of these agreements, the government has not used them to reduce electricity bills. Therefore, Jamaat-e-Islami has decided to reorganize its protest movement to provide relief to the public.
Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman also emphasized the importance of negotiations with Afghanistan to ensure peace in the tribal areas. He stated that terrorism should not be exported from Kabul to Pakistani soil. He urged both Islamabad and Kabul to take steps to restore mutual trust. He also stressed the responsibility of both central and provincial governments in ensuring peace in Kurram and other tribal areas. Regarding military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, he argued that past operations have not resolved issues and that the government should focus on providing employment, education, and economic activities to the region’s youth.
Regarding political developments, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman expressed his hope that negotiations between the government and PTI would be successful. He called for the release of all political prisoners, including Imran Khan, and said that the current ruling alliance’s negotiations with the establishment should be conducted transparently, with the public fully informed. He also criticized the PPP and MQM for their joint role in Karachi’s problems, accusing them of mismanagement and corruption.
Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman further criticized the exploitation of farmers, particularly in Punjab, where he claimed that wheat procurement issues should have been addressed by the judiciary. He also highlighted the issue of cartelization, pointing to the involvement of sugar, wheat, and medicine mafias in the country. He called for reform in Punjab’s police force and stated that Jamaat-e-Islami was forming committees at both rural and urban levels to address the problems faced by the public.
He condemned the ruling elite for increasing their own salaries while administrative costs have risen by 23%, with the government presenting false statistics regarding the economy. He added that inflation is rampant, and the common people are unable to afford basic food items. The Jamaat-e-Islami protest will focus on providing relief to the public.
Finally, he urged Islamic countries, especially Pakistan, to take concrete steps to halt the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, condemning the U.S. for supporting Israeli terrorism. He also called for greater unity in Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir and greater political and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri people.