Govt, JI hold first round of talks as anti-inflation sit-in enters 3rd day

RAWALPINDI: The federal government and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Sunday held the first round of talks as the latter's sit-in against inflated electricity bills and backbreaking taxes entered its third day in Rawalpindi.

"Jamaat-e-Islami will continue its sit-in," said party's Naib Emir Liaqat Baloch addressing a press conference after discussing its demands with a trio of government negotiators at the Rawalpindi commissioner’s office.

A three-member delegation including Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Amir Muqam, and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry met the JI negotiation committee at the Rawalpindi commissioner's office amid mounting pressure on the government as the Rawalpindi sit-in entered its third day.

On Saturday, JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman warned of expanding the sit-in against skyrocketing electricity bills and high taxes to other parts of the country if the government failed to meet his party's demands.

Speaking to the media after the negotiations today, Baloch said that the first round of talks was held in a "pleasant environment".

"We laid out our demands before the government, and they will set up a technical team tomorrow (Monday) to look into them," Baloch said.

He added that JI had conveyed its agenda to the government, clearly stating that the sit-in protest was completely apolitical and aimed solely at demanding relief for the masses tormented by the scourge of runaway inflation.

The politico said that there might be more rounds of talks; however, the protest sit-in would continue till their demands are accepted.

"Electricity and petrol prices have become unbearable for the nation, whereas, the government has not signed any international agreement with the independent power producers (IPPs)," he said.

The party naib emir said that the JI would not let anyone sacrifice the nation to protect the capitalists’ interests. "The masses will get relief if the government takes their miseries seriously," he added.

Baloch also told the media that they had handed over a list of 35 persons, who were arrested during the ongoing protest, to the government. He, however, added that said most of the arrested JI workers had been released. 

Govt making all out efforts to provide relief: Tarar

Meanwhile, federal minister Tarar confirmed that the government has ordered the immediate release of 35 JI workers whose names were given to them by the party leadership.

He said that the religio-political party presented 10 demands regarding power, agriculture and taxes.

The federal government was making all-out efforts to reduce its expenditures and provide relief to the nation via privatisation and economic reforms, he added.

Tarar said that the federal minister for water and power had been added to the technical team, comprising the Power Division secretary and representatives of the finance ministry and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), to review the JI's demands.

The minister added that the Naeem-led party tabled most of its demands related to electricity issues. He vowed that these issues would be resolved at the earliest.

He also said that the government wanted to shift the sit-in inside the Liaquat Bagh.

The JI had presented a 10-point charter of demands to the government.

• Abolition of Petroleum Development Levy on all petroleum products and withdrawal of latest increase in prices of these products.
• 20 % reduction in prices of food commodities, electricity and gas tariffs.
• Renegotiation of agreements with independent power producers (IPPs)
• End clause of agreement with IPPs on making payments in US dollars.
• 50% discount should be granted to power consumers of 500 units
• Reduction in taxes on agriculture and industrial sectors besides decreasing their financial burden by 50%
• Ensure incentives to industrial sector, trade and investment to provide employment to youth.
• Withdrawal of increase in taxes on the salaried class and imposition of taxes on the privileged class.
• Cut in non-development expenses by 35%.
• Withdrawal of all taxes on stationery and other items used in education and training of children.

Rawalpindi's Murree Road which currently hosts the massive JI sit-in remained closed to traffic, barricaded by the containers disrupting business activities in the garrison city. Metro Bus Service remains suspended for the third day because of the protest.

Before the initiation of negotiations, the JI spokesperson Aamir Baloch slammed the authorities for suspending the Metro Bus Service despite a peaceful sit-in.

He said that they didn't want to hinder public movement and demanded the Rawalpindi authorities restart Metro service and traffic around the sit-in venue.

Initially meant for Islamabad, the country witnessed the political showdown in Rawalpindi, which started on Friday evening after the crowds from various cities were diverted to the garrison city in the light of restrictions imposed in the federal capital.

Scores of JI activists tried to enter Islamabad on JI Emir Naeem's call to gather at D-Chowk. However, as the government had imposed Section-144 in the capital territory and Punjab, authorities prevented the party from staging a sit-in there.

Several JI workers were arrested for violating Section 144, imposed to prohibit public gatherings and processions ahead of the call of protests by different opposition parties owing to security risks.

Later, the JI and the government agreed to stage the anti-inflation sit-in at Rawalpindi's Liaquat Bagh.