JI Ameer Hafiz Naeem refuses to wrap up sit-in unless demands met

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said on Thursday categorically that the party would not end its sit-in outside Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi merely on an assurance given by a government minister, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.    

Speaking to reporters, he said that the issue related to the independent power producers (IPPs) should be completely resolved.  

Referring to a statement made by a federal minister yesterday that the demands made by the JI were already on the government’s agenda, he said that if that was the case, then what was stopping the government from accepting them.

Hafiz Naeem said that the government should bear this thing in mind that right now the party’s sit-in was peaceful. “This is because we are keeping the situation under control.”  

The JI chief said he was at a loss to understand how the salaried class would be able to pay more taxes.

Also on Thursday, Hafiz Naeem convened the emergency meeting of the party’s executive committee to discuss the progress made in talks with the government.

Different suggestions will also be discussed at the meeting as how the party could further apply pressure on the government in order to force it to accept its demands.    

The meeting would also mull future course of action in case negotiations with the government failed to produce desired results.

Similarly, there would be a discussion on the feedback received from transporters as well as traders on the subject of strike.

Likewise, the party leaders would also ponder over the prospects for holding sit-ins in Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi.

JI Spokesman Qaiser Sharif said that the party would not end its sit-ins until and unless the government provided relief to the masses. “We are fighting for the rights of 250 million people of Pakistan,” he said.

Reporter: Hassan Ali