Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has announced plans for a nationwide protest on January 17, demanding a reduction in electricity prices.
The announcement was made by party chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman during a press conference in Lahore, Express News reported.
Hafiz Naeem criticized the government for failing to address growing economic challenges, particularly the failure to reduce electricity bills despite the closure of Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
“Although the IPPs are closed, electricity bills have not decreased,” he said, emphasizing the party’s concern over the economic difficulties faced by the public.
He also highlighted the increase in oil and staple food prices, which have continued to rise while other sectors, such as the stock market, show positive trends.
Hafiz Naeem highlighted the issue of PPIs and highlighted that despite the government’s claims to resolve the crisis, people continue to suffer.
“We raised the issue of PPIs but they are not affected and the promised relief has not materialised,” he added. He also questioned the government’s decision to exempt IPPs from income tax while ordinary citizens continue to bear the tax burden.
The JI leader criticized the government for its handling of the agricultural sector, particularly the price of sugarcane and wheat, which face significant production losses due to unregulated pricing.
He urged the government to implement support programs for these crops to avoid further losses in the agricultural sector.
Hafiz Naeem also expressed concern about the education system, noting that the burden of education expenditure is shifting from the government to the private sector. “The cost of education is increasing and the government is moving away from its responsibility,” he said, adding that this could further deepen socioeconomic inequalities.
On the political level, Hafiz Naeem called for an end to military interference in politics and criticized both the ruling and opposition parties for their links with the military establishment. He also mentioned the situation in Karachi, where political instability has been exacerbated by the influence of the establishment.
Addressing international issues, Hafiz Naeem strongly condemned Israel’s actions in Palestine, accusing the country of committing genocide with the support of the United States. He also highlighted the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and advocated peace talks with Afghanistan to alleviate regional instability.
Hafiz Naeem concluded by urging the government to prioritize national unity and address the pressing issues of economic collapse, political instability and international relations.
