JI chief demands immediate relief for masses

Karachi: Tens of thousands of Karachiites along with their families participated in the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI)'s sit-in, held outside the Sindh Governor House, on its 2nd day, here on Sunday.

The JI Karachi has been holding a protest sit-in outside the governor house in solidarity with the main sit-in by the party in Rawalpindi.

Representatives of trade bodies, teachers, students, lawyers and walks of life, along with a large number of Karachiites have participated in the protest against the governmental policies.

The protesters chanted slogans against the ruling regime and all those who made the nation face the prevailing situation.

On the occasion, JI Karachi established a sit-in fund and appealed to Karachiites to support the sit-in held to bring relief for the nation.

JI Pakistan Ameer Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman visited Karachi to address the sit-in. In his presidential address, the JI supremo warned the government that the sit-ins will be further expended if the government failed to address the demands of the nation.

We don't want confrontation and chaos but don't take it as weakness and instead take a look over what is going on in Kenya and Bangladesh, he said.

The JI leader further asked those in the corridors of power to reduce the electricity tariff before it's too late and people refuse to pay the bills.

Talking about the issue of Independent Power Producers (IPPs), he said that 8500 billion rupees have been paid to IPPs and the nation won't accept the constitution of this plundering anymore.

He demanded the authorities to run a forensic audit on the accounts of IPPs in order to ascertain the truth.

Forensic audit of IPPs accounts will also expose multiple parties who have been the beneficiaries of the illogical agreements with IPPs, he said.

The JI leader further said the rulers are hands in gloves with the criminals and that's why they don't want to take any drastic action against those involved.

He said that the rulers are reluctant to negotiate with IPPs, despite the fact that negotiations are a matter of routine when it comes to international agreements.

Why don't the rulers talk to IPPs and China, he said while demanding the ruling regime to do so.

Both dictators and politicians planted in their nurseries have failed in this country, he said, adding that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) practically comes to sit on both sides of the table when it comes to talks.

He added that the local agents of the IMF in the ruling class have caused the prevailing situation.

Talking about excessive taxes, he demanded the government to rationalize the tax regime. He demanded the government to provide relief to the masses.

Health, education, and food security sectors were exempted from taxes as per the IMF program, he said while highlighting that the government imposed taxes in all those sectors.

On the occasion, he demanded the government to eliminate interest rate gradually and reduce the interest rate immediately in order to provide some breathing space for the poor.

Pakistan has been bestowed with all types of blessings, he said, adding that the only curse in the society is corruption supported by the system.

He also demanded the government to end the monopoly of the K-Electric in Karachi.

He paid a rich tribute to Karachi and Karachiites for raising their voice against injustice.

JI Karachi Ameer Munem Zafar and other JI leaders, including MPA Muhammad Farooq addressed the sit-in.