The Pakistan government on Sunday announced the release of 35 detained members of Jamaat-e-Islami. The purpose behind this decision of the government is to convince the right-wing Islamic party to end its protest against the skyrocketing electricity bills and rising taxes. According to the report of news agency PTI, the government has also constituted a technical committee to look into the demands of Jamaat-e-Islami.
Jamaat-e-Islami is staging a protest in Liaquat Bagh area on Murree Road in Garrison City of Rawalpindi on the issues of electricity and tax increase. Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said that after the first round of talks with JI, the government is releasing 35 of its supporters as per the party’s demand. He said that the government has already agreed to the demands presented by the JI delegation as it is committed to reducing the burden on the public.
Jamaat-e-Islami made 10 demands from the government
Tarar made these announcements after a meeting with the JI delegation led by Deputy Chief Liaquat Baloch. The government delegation for talks with Jamaat-e-Islami included Ataullah Tarar, Kashmir Affairs Minister Engineer Amir Maqam, senior PML-N leader Tariq Fazal Chaudhary and Prime Minister’s media coordinator Badr Shahbaz. Tarar said the JI presented a list of ten demands, most of which relate to power-related issues.
Talk of continuing the protest until the demands are met
He said that a technical committee has been formed, which includes representatives from the Ministry of Water and Power, Energy Secretary, FBR and Finance Ministry. This committee will give necessary suggestions to the government on how to provide relief to the public. Earlier, while addressing the protest, JI chief Hafiz Naeem said that no one wants to leave their house and sit on the road. We have come out for the future of the country and will continue to protest until our demands are met.
Both protest and talks will continue together
He said, ‘The agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) were kept hidden and upon investigation it was found that the ruling class was involved in it. The budget for capacity charge on electricity is more than the defense budget. Hafiz Naeem reiterated that both the protest and talks will continue together. He warned the government that lip service would not suffice and the protesters would not go back until their demands were met.