Pakistan: Jamaat-e-Islami vows to continue protest over electricity price, tax hike

Pakistan’s rightwing Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Saturday vowed to continue its protest in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi as the party’s sit-in entered the second day to press the government to reduce electricity price and taxes on the salaried class.

Electricity bills in Pakistan spiked after the crisis-hit nation agreed to increase its power tariffs in order to secure a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF in a contentious, drawn-out negotiation with Islamabad, demanded that Pakistan boost its tax revenues as one of the terms of the agreement.

Also Read: Pakistan's new budget taxes the already struggling middle class while rich 'eat the cake'

What makes the Pakistani budget so controversial is the fact that instead of providing any relief to the middle class, the National Assembly increased the effective income tax rate of a salaried person to 39 per cent, for the association of persons to 44 per cent and for the non-salaried individual the number jumped to 50 per cent from last year.

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Interestingly, the Shehbaz Sharif administration exempted income tax on sales of properties by serving/retired bureaucrats and serving/retired military personnel.

The taxes on the already stressed salaried class are being increased at a time when the particular section of society has lost almost half of its purchasing power in the last five years.

The party for the second day on Saturday held the protest to hold a rally at the D-Chowk in Islamabad. The JI drive was, however, stopped by police. The party later changed its plan and announced holding a sit-in at three places, including Murree Road and Chungi No 22 in Rawalpindi and H-8 Bridge Islamabad.

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JI chief Hafiz Naeem addressed the participants camping on the Murree Road, the main artery of the garrison city connecting it with Islamabad, and vowed to continue the sit-in till the demands were accepted.

“Our demands are simple and we want the government to give relief to the masses,” he said, adding that the party was aware of difficulties but was sure that the issue of power tariffs could be addressed.

He said the protest would continue until its key demands were met, elaborating that renegotiations be held with the Independent Power Producers (IPPs), a group of power companies considered the main cause of the exorbitant rise in the electricity bills.

Naeem also expressed willingness to talk with the government if the latter showed seriousness in addressing the issues highlighted by the JI. He said the government should first set up the committee for talks.

He also announced to address a big gathering on Murree Road on Sunday evening and asked people from every walk of life to attend as his party has been fighting for their rights.

The JI is one of the oldest parties in the country and is also known for holding big protests. The protestors have been so far peaceful but Naeem alleged that dozens of party workers had been arrested and demanded their immediate release. PTI SH PY Separately, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: supporters also held demonstrations across the country where hundreds of workers were arrested on Friday, protesting the inflated electricity bills and demanding the release of former prime minister Imran Khan from jail.

With inputs from agencies.