JI hints at expanding protest to CM House, Sharea Faisal

The Jamaat-e-Islami’s sit-in protest outside the Governor House in Karachi entered the fifth consecutive day on Wednesday and the city leadership of the party clearly hinted at expanding the protest to the Chief Minister House or Sharea Faisal.

An Ulema convention was the major event of the day at the sit-in, bringing the religious scholars onboard against the government over the soaring electricity bills in the country. Th convention at the sit-in was organised by the Jamiat Ittehad Ulema.

Jamiat Ittehad Ulema Karachi head Maulana Abdul Waheed in his speech praised the JI leadership for its activism for the rights of people and assured the leadership of full cooperation on the part of religious scholars.

He said that among other segments of the society, mosques and religious seminaries were also targeted by the government. JI Karachi Amir Monem Zafar, while addressing the sit-in and a press conference earlier in the day, made it clear that the sit-in was an extension of the major protest in Rawalpindi.

Talking about the future course of action in Karachi, he said that the plan to expand the protest to the Chief Minister House and or Sharea Faisal was on the cards. He added that all the options to pursue rights for the nation were open and the party would not hesitate to exercise any of its democratic rights. He said the JI doesn't want clash or chaos in the society, but at the same time it is unwavering in its resolve to ensure due rights for the nation.

The JI leader reiterated the party's demands to quash unjust agreements with independent power producers (IPPs), end the tax slab system and excessive taxes on bills, revoke the K-Electric's licence, reduce the electricity tariff to production cost and introduce a rational tax regime.

Zafar also demanded limiting the governmental cars to 1300CC. He demanded from those in the corridors of power to withdraw all excessive perks and privileges of rulers, judiciary, bureaucracy and establishment.

He also paid a rich tribute to religious scholars for their active participation in the rights movement. Apart from thousands of JI workers, a large number of Karachiites, including women, children and senior citizens, also visited the venue.