JI warns of protest campaign after winter if IPPs issue not resolved

The Jamaat-e-Islami will continue its campaign against the government after the winter season if the chapter of independent power producers (IPPs) is not closed and the benefit of savings was not transferred to consumers.

JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said this on Sunday while addressing an annual convention of the party members at the Idara Noor-e-Haq. He said the government would have to address the ongoing water and power crises.

He lamented that the trend of changing election results was lethal for the country and it had become new normal in the political arena. Suppressing the opinion of people would lead the country to nowhere, he remarked, adding that the trend of changing election results was tantamount to insulting the democracy and the will of the people.

Talking about rigging in the local and general elections, particularly in Karachi, he said the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has rigged the local government elections and managed to install the mayor of his choice. As a result, he maintained, the PPP exposed itself throughout the country.

He added that in the general elections, the PPP and Muttahida Qaumi Movement were imposed on Karachi with the help of tampered form 47. Subsequently, the Form 47 become a matter of shame for both — those who were installed and those who installed, he remarked.

He said holding protests was a democratic right of political parties and suppression of protest and people’s opinion would lead the country to nowhere. He added that the JI had always supported the supremacy of justice, constitution and democracy.

He announced that so far two million new people had come under the fold of the JI during the ongoing membership campaign. He advised the JI members to keep a check on their own self and make efforts to develop their personality. On the political front, he advised the JI members to constitute people’s committees on the level of block code.

He said the connection between political workers and public was the real asset of political parties. Karachi JI chief Monem Zafar also addressed the convention. On the occasion, reports of various departments of the JI were presented before the members.