Undeterred JI to continue anti-inflation protest

RAWALPINDI/ISLAMABAD: Following its failure to stage a protest at the D-Chowk in the federal capital and detention of its workers, the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Friday hurried back to Rawalpindi where it staged a protest at Liaquat Bagh, warning that the protest would continue unless the government announced relief to the people on inflated electricity bills.

Led by their leaders, a large number of JI activists coming from across the country managed to enter the federal capital but majority of them were pushed back before they could reach the Zero Point.

Though the riot police and law-enforcement agencies, dressed in full gear, were manning all the entry points to the Red Zone behind a high wall of containers, some JI activists still managed to enter the Red Zone. However, they were detained by the police.

Addressing the protesters in I-8 shortly before marching back to Rawalpindi, JI Amir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said they wanted no clash with the police and were shifting to Rawalpindi as per their B plan. “We are shifting our sit-in to Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi and will continue to stay there,” he vowed.

Digging his heels in on the issue, Hafiz said the protest will continue till the government announced relief on the power bills, withdrew increase in taxes and negotiated revised conditions with independent power plants (IPPs).

Hafiz said, “We are not fond of staging sit-ins, but we won’t move from here till the government accepts all our demands. We are not here for any personal interests rather our struggle is meant to get relief for our 250 million compatriots, who are looking towards us. The incumbent government, which is a product of Form-47, has made the life of people miserable.”

Hafiz also instructed the party workers to avoid any confrontation with the police saying they were also frustrated due to the current economic situation. “The government should also release our arrested workers, as we are peaceful people and want peace,” he said.

“We also demand the government to reduce taxes on the salaried class, withdraw petroleum levy and taxes on flour, sugar, rice, pulses and baby milk,” Hafiz said.

Contrary to the JI, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) put off its planned protest in Islamabad due to the imposition of Section 144. The PTI will now hold a rally or demonstration on Monday.

The JI protest caused tailbacks in the garrison city, forcing the district administration to arrange contraflow systems on several roads, including the busiest Murree Road. Scores of people had to make detours to reach their destinations.

The federal capital police detained over 25 JI workers and shifted them to lockups. However, they were released shortly afterwards.

Contrary to the number of arrested workers shared by the police with the media, the Jamaat claimed that several of its workers had been detained.

In a statement, the Islamabad district administration said Section 144 was already imposed in the capital and no one was allowed to hold any kind of protest or rally.

In a video message, the PTI Islamabad Chapter President Aamir Mughal announced the postponement of the planned protest after taking the central leadership into confidence.

“We are postponing today’s protest till Monday in respect of the court order. We had given a call for protest at 3pm today. We adopted the legal route of permission and applied to the DC on 23rd July. On not getting permission from the DC, we approached the Islamabad High Court,” he said.

Separately, in view of the countrywide protests already announced, the PTI leaders, lawmakers and workers held rallies and protests in their respective areas. However, a symbolic hunger strike outside the Parliament House could not be held.

Also, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Friday instructed the district administration to decide the PTI’s application with reason seeking permission for a rally at any appropriate place by July 29. The court issued an order on a petition submitted by the PTI.

The court said the PTI’s application would be considered fresh, as a procession was practically impossible. The order said the petitioner had prayed the court to grant permission for a protest at F-9 Park and assured the court that the protest would be peaceful.

Advocate General Islamabad informed the court that Section-144 had been imposed in capital for two months. Justice Saman Raffat Imtiaz heard the case.

Meanwhile, the federal government offered Jamaat-e-Islami to come to the negotiating table, saying the practice of protesting at D-Chowk should end. Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar said this while speaking at a news conference here. Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Engineer Amir Muqam accompanied him.

Tarar said a three-member committee was ready to hold talks with the JI leadership on issues.

The minister said the Jamaat-e-Islami was given permission to protest at Liaquat Bagh and added it was better that they restrict themselves to the protest, as staging sit-ins would make life difficult. “We await an indication of talks from the JI Amir and will sit with them and listen to them for a way out,” he said.

The prime minister has constituted a three-member committee — comprising Amir Muqam, Tarar and Tariq Fazal Chaudhry — for negotiations. Tarar said the protest could not be allowed at D-Chowk, as there were sensitive installations there. This practice of protests there should end now. Last time, a metro bus was burnt during a protest, he said.

He said it had been agreed that a sit-in or protest would be staged at Liaquat Bagh but now they were insisting on moving forward. “Sitting in the streets while protesting may lead to vandalism threatening life and property, which is not appropriate,” he said.

He said it was the responsibility of government to ensure the safety of lives and property of citizens, adding the government was working on the agenda of reforms. He said providing relief to the people and economic reforms were the prime minister’s priority.

Resources, he pointed out, were being utilised for the betterment of people and special measures were being made to shore up the economy.

Tarar said the statements of KP chief minister were a collection of contradictions. He said the chief minister said one thing in official meetings and something else in public meetings.

The minister said that those who had brought the Taliban back say they will not allow the operation. “What is your plan and what are you doing for anti-terrorism?” he asked.

He claimed that forests were being brutally cut down in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and asked the chief minister to tell people what steps had been taken against the timber mafia instead of misguiding the people. The minister said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had signed an agreement with a fake organization to train the youth in artificial intelligence. This organization has no legal standing to award students a valid and acceptable certificate, he claimed.

The minister said a system was being introduced to bring millions of non-filers into the tax net. He noted a subsidy of Rs50 billion had been given on electricity bills and up to 200 units were not burdening the consumers.

The minister said the person who made and shared the indecent video of Azma Bukhari had been identified and institutions were in pursuit of him. The name of the accused and address have been ascertained.

Amir Muqam said the state writ had to be established for peace. He claimed that a few people were doing unnecessary rhetoric about security. He said law-enforcement agencies will ensure peace and operations were being conducted against terrorists based on confidential information. Those talking about getting dollars should also explain it. However, he clarified that no such operation was taking place in Pakhtunkhwa as being said.

He said the KP chief minister should focus on improving law and order instead of doing politics on these issues. He suggested that he should consult his leader at the Adiala jail.