The federal government announced on Sunday the release of Jamaat-e-Islami supporters, who were detained when the party staged the Rawalpindi sit-in on Friday, as the first round of talks between the two sides concluded.
A JI delegation led by party’s deputy ameer Liaquat Baloch held talks with the government’s team comprising Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and States and Frontier Regions Minister Amir Muqam at the Commissioner’s Office in Rawalpindi.
The religiopolitical party’s protest against exorbitant electricity bills and power agreements with independent power producers (IPPs) entered the third day on Sunday, with several of its supporters participating in the sit-in at Murree Road in Pindi.
The JI presented its 10 demands to the government.
“We have presented all the details to the government committee and the government will form a technical committee for all these issues and do its homework, then the second round of negotiations will take place, but the sit-in will continue simultaneously,” Baloch told reporters after the negotiations.
He claimed that the party has no personal agenda and their supporters have come out for the people worried due to inflation.
Baloch reiterated that it has become difficult for the people to pay the electricity bills and it was difficult to “make ends meet.”
The JI deputy chief claimed that IPPs have become a “death warrant” for the national economy the government’s negotiating committee has told them that there were international agreements.
According to Baloch, a large number of the party’s workers have been arrested. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has assured that such workers would be released soon.
“35 Jamaat-e-Islami workers have been sent to different jails and the government negotiating team has promised their early release,” the JI leader said.
During the talks, the issue of taxes on exporters and mills was discussed.
The government has agreed to the “immediate” release of 35 detained Jamaat-e-Islami workers, the information minister said.
“Our vision is to let Pakistan move forward. We are providing subsidies to consumers using up to 200 electricity units, and we have saved the country from defaulting. I hope these measures will improve the situation,” he told reporters.
The minister claimed that the government was cutting its expenditures and moving towards privatisation, which would help improve the economic conditions. “We are taking steps to provide relief to the people. We want a prosperous and self-reliant Pakistan,” he said.
Tarar added that the next round of negotiations with the JI would be held on Monday (tomorrow) to finalise the details.
The minister clarified that they were not making any promises regarding the acceptance of all demands. “A technical committee will look into the technical matters and talks will resume after 12pm tomorrow,” he said.
PML-N leader Amir Muqam stated: “The entire nation wants cheap electricity and petrol. We are running the country while staying within our resources and the government’s technical committee will participate in the negotiations.”
The protest by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Rawalpindi and Islamabad entered its third day on Sunday. However, the party has accepted the government’s invitation for talks, with the first round of negotiations scheduled for today on their 10-point demands. The talks began on Sunday afternoon at the DC office.
Sources revealed that JI has formed a four-member negotiating team, comprising Liaquat Baloch, Amirul Azeem, Syed Farast Shah, and Nasrullah Randhawa. The JI leadership has stated that they will engage in talks but will not compromise on their demands.
The government delegation that arrived for talks includes Atta Tarar, Amir Muqam, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Shehbaz Badar.
The 10 demands include a 50% reduction in electricity bills, termination of agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), abolishment of the petroleum levy and withdrawal of recent price hikes, withdrawal of taxes on salaried individuals, imposing taxes on the privileged class, a 20% reduction in the prices of essential commodities, a 35% cut in non-developmental expenditures, and a reduction in taxes on agriculture and industries.
The protest, against high electricity prices, is being held at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi. Participants spent the night outside the Bagh and were engaged in cleaning activities after Fajr prayers.
Despite heavy rainfall, participants reached Liaquat Bagh and were visited by Atta Tarar and Tariq Fazal who met with JI leaders, Hafiz Naeem and Liaquat Baloch, late at night.
In an exclusive interview with Aaj News, Atta Tarar stated that they had visited the JI leader to invite him for talks. The JI has formed a four-member negotiating team led by Liaquat Baloch. He further mentioned that a schedule for negotiations will be decided and the issue will be resolved through dialogue.
The Federal Information Minister met with Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman in a cordial environment. The government delegation requested talks with the JI leader, which Hafiz Naeem accepted.
The four-member JI negotiating committee includes Deputy Amir Liaquat Baloch, Secretary General Amirul Azeem, Syed Farast Shah, and Nasrullah Randhawa.
Read: JI temporarily calls off protest against inflated power bills
However, the JI has refused to immediately end the protest. The negotiating team, led by Liaquat Baloch, is ready to engage in formal talks today.
Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has stated that the government should not prolong the negotiations. If there is any delay, they will march towards Islamabad. A historic rally will be held on Murree Road today. The march might commence after the rally.
Earlier, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi contacted JI Deputy Amir, Liaquat Baloch, over the phone.
During the conversation, Liaquat Baloch presented the JI’s demands, urging a 50% reduction in electricity bills, elimination of slab rates, termination of capacity payment agreements with IPPs, withdrawal of the oppressive tax burden on salaried individuals, and rollback of the increase in petroleum product prices.
The JI demands that the government provide a 50% discount to consumers using up to 500 units of electricity, abolish the petroleum levy, and immediately withdraw the recent price hikes.
The JI further demands that the government reduce its expenditures, implement a 35% cut in non-developmental expenses, terminate the agreement for paying capacity charges and IPPs in dollars, and review all agreements made with IPPs.
The JI has also demanded the abolition of unjustified taxes on agriculture and industry, a 50% reduction in the tax burden, and ensuring industrial, commercial, and investment growth to create employment opportunities for youth. They also demand the abolition of taxes on salaried individuals and bringing the privileged class under the tax net.
Despite the heavy rainfall, the participants’ spirits remain high on the third day of the protest. They sought shelter in safe locations during the rain and returned to the protest site.
The protest administration has set up a container stage and provided refreshments, including potato parathas. The rain, which started early in the morning, has engulfed Murree Road.
Protest participants took shelter in the Metropole and other safe locations. However, the carpets and curtains laid out in the protest site got wet. The small stage has been replaced by a container.
A sound system and other equipment have been arranged on the container for speeches by the protest leaders. The participants are determined to continue the protest until their demands are met, regardless of weather conditions.
