JI leader urges people to join July 26 sit-in

ABBOTTABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman has urged the public to gather in Islamabad on July 26 for a "dharna" to press the government for acceptance of their demands, including the withdrawal of hike in electricity tariff.

Addressing a press conference at Maqruz-e-Islami here, Dr Rehman emphasized that the sit-in had no political objectives and aimed at securing the public's rights.

Dr Rehman commended the Supreme Court's verdict on special seats allocation to PTI and demanded the immediate resignation of officials concerned of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). He criticized the ECP for failing to fulfill its responsibilities and called for the implementation of the Constitution in letter and spirit.

Dr. Rehman also condemned the high electricity tariffs, stating that they have severely burdened the public, forcing many to sell household items to pay their bills. He demanded an immediate reversal of this decision and revision of gas tariffs. Additionally, he expressed reservations about military operations in certain areas, advocating for targeted operations to address security issues.

In response to a question, Dr. Rehman explained that the sit-in date was changed due to requests from religious scholars and the holy month of Muharram. He claimed that the sit-in would make history and ultimately resolve issues like inflation, price hikes, and electricity bills, leading to political stability.