Party workers gather outside Karachi Governor House; Zafar says JI will take issues to their logical conclusion
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Sunday began sit-ins outside governors’ houses across the country, with a large number of people gathering at all four provincial headquarters as the party pressed its demands over poor governance, inflation, rising fuel prices and the petroleum levy.
The JI had initially announced a nationwide protest for Aug 9 but later postponed it to Aug 16 due to Independence Day celebrations.
In Karachi, a JI march led by Karachi chief Munam Zafar reached the Governor House, where the party workers were met with containers blocking the route before the building and a heavy police presence outside.
Read: JI postpones Sunday sit-ins, sets Aug 16 for nationwide protests
Following failed negotiations between JI representatives and the police over removal of the containers, party workers sat down on the road outside the Governor House.
The protesters raised slogans against the government and demanded an end to what they described as the “extortion tax” in the form of the petroleum levy.
Speaking at the sit-in, Zafar demanded abolition of the petroleum levy, saying people wanted to understand the levy and the role of independent power producers (IPPs).
He said JI had raised awareness among the public and brought the facts before them. “Whatever issue Jamaat-i-Islami raises, it takes it to its logical conclusion,” he said.
Zafar said those whose “achievements” were highlighted became worried, adding that education and health were not the issues being addressed by the authorities.
He said the people of Karachi had developed their own outlook and that JI was opposed to the existing system.
Also Read: Dialogue only solution to AJK crisis: JI chief
Zafar alleged that when a person was killed in the city, the case was given a different direction. Referring to the murder of Mir Raza, he questioned who was protecting those responsible for his killing.
He said JI stood with the people of Karachi and demanded that citizens be provided with water.
“The atmosphere for the sit-in will now develop. We will move forward as well,” he said.
