JI Ends Two-Week Sit-In After Agreement with Government, forming a task force to address IPP issues and reduce electricity bills. The agreement also includes lowering taxes on the salaried class.
The decision was announced in the early hours of Friday following the conclusion of the fifth round of talks at the JI protest site in Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh.
JI Chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman emphasized that the sit-in was deferred, not ended, cautioning that the party would closely monitor the government’s promises and resume the protest if commitments are not fulfilled.
The newly-formed task force is expected to finalize its report within six weeks and submit it to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
At the announcement, JI Naib Emir Liaqat Baloch, alongside Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, confirmed that the government had agreed to JI’s demands after a 14-day sit-in by party workers.
Liaqat Baloch explained that the task force will audit IPP agreements and involve foreign experts to ensure transparency. He stressed the importance of monitoring the energy sector to provide relief to consumers.
“The IPP issue is a significant challenge for Pakistan’s economy,” Liaqat Baloch stated. “The government has acknowledged JI’s role in bringing this issue to light. Additionally, a committee will address tax issues for the business community and agricultural tax for large landowners, with relief measures planned for farmers.”
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reiterated the government and JI’s commitment to public relief, with upcoming plans to reduce electricity bills.
“We aim for the prosperity of the country,” Mohsin Naqvi said, commending JI’s peaceful approach in achieving their objectives.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar added that JI’s demands aligned with the PML-N’s agenda, noting that the PML-N government had already provided relief to consumers using up to 200 units of electricity, allocating Rs50 billion for this purpose.
The talks between JI and the government, which resumed after a five-day pause, resulted in a written response to JI’s demands by Wednesday. Following this, JI Chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman decided to temporarily end the sit-in.
The JI delegation, led by Liaqat Baloch, included Amirul Azeem, Syed Farasat Shah, and Nasrullah Randhawa, with Hafiz Naeemur Rehman also attending the discussions. The government delegation was led by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and included Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.
Earlier, at a press conference during the Rawalpindi sit-in, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman criticized the “double, triple” tax system, demanding that any agreement with the government be formally documented.
“It’s unfair that the salaried class pays taxes on their earnings and then again on essential goods like flour, sugar, and ghee,” the JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman warned, noting that public frustration is mounting and could lead to unrest.
