RAWALPINDI: Workers and supporters of Jamaat e Islami (JI) led by its chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman continue their protest sit-in at Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi.
Despite heavy rain and accumulation of rainwater in the area, the protesters vowed not to disperse unless the government accepted their demands concerning public issues related to inflated power bills, rising inflation and increase in the tax slabs of salaried class.
On the other hand, a government team was to meet the protesters once again but there seems no possibility of the government accepting the demands of bringing down electricity tariffs, taxes on salaried class or review of the agreement with independent power producers who are charging the consumers exorbitantly.
Addressing the protesters, the JI chief said that the people of Pakistan, especially the youth, were determined to force the government to withdraw all its anti-masses policies and decisions made on the dictation of the IMF. He said his party had restrained the protesters from moving to Islamabad fearing a conspiracy by government to use police against them.
He warned that if the government did not meet their demands, the peaceful protesters would move to D Chowk and force the government to announce relief for the masses.
However, a federal minister said that the demands were not possible to be accepted. He said that previous governments had entered into agreements with IPPPs and the current government cannot abolish the accords as it would lead to imposition of fines like the government faced in the Reko Diq case.
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