JI announces support for Dec 4 strike against gas tariff hike

Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Karachi, on Friday declared his backing for the December 4 strike called by the trade and industry sector.

The strike aimed to protest the substantial 193 percent increase in gas tariffs. A demand had been put forth for the interim government to withdraw this significant hike and reduce the prices of petroleum products. The announcement was made by the JI leader during a press conference held at Idara Noor-e-Haq, the JI Karachi headquarters. He was joined by JI Karachi leaders Munim Zaffar, Raja Arif Sultan, Zahid Askari, and others.

Addressing the gathering, he expressed concern over the interim regime's substantial economic burden. He questioned the sustainability of the country if the industrial sector in Karachi struggled with such illogical and disproportionate increases in power and gas tariffs.

He shed light on the unequal tax regime, emphasising that the salaried class bore a tax burden of Rs264 compared to only Rs4 billion from feudal lords. The JI leader also raised the issue of escalating crimes in the mega city, the economic nerve of the country, and highlighted the reported involvement of the Sindh police in criminal activities.

He called for a thorough purge of the police department and emphasised the necessity of police reforms. Additionally, he demanded the recruitment of Karachiites without ethnic discrimination, increasing their representation in the Karachi police to at least 80 percent. Discussing local government matters, he pointed out a stark disparity in the budget allocation for union committees between Karachi and interior parts of Sindh, emphasising a one-to-seven ratio, which he deemed an eye-opener.

Critiquing the Pakistan Peoples Party regime, he asserted that it had failed Karachi and its citizens. He urged the public to reject political parties responsible for the deterioration of the once-vibrant city of lights.