Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Criticizes Government Over Electricity Policies, Demands Relief for Low-Income Groups
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman expressed strong disapproval of the federal government’s electricity policies, citing that high electricity bills are leading people to commit suicide. Speaking at a sit-in protest in Rawalpindi via video link from Doha, where he was attending the funeral of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman urged the government to reduce electricity bills for low-income segments.
Furthermore, the JI chief criticized the government for providing free petrol to lawmakers, calling it a misuse of public funds. He proposed that Rs 300 billion could be saved if this practice is discontinued. Hafiz Naeemur Rehman also suggested imposing taxes on feudal lords instead of salaried individuals.
The sit-in against high electricity bills and inflation, spearheaded by JI, entered its eighth day with a list of 10 demands for the government, including reductions in food prices, renegotiation of agreements with IPPs, and incentives for the industrial sector. Hafiz Naeemur Rehman emphasized the need for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s guarantee on ongoing negotiations and expressed solidarity with the protesting community.