RAWALPINDI: A Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) delegation led by Shuaib Shaheen on Friday visited the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) sit-in at Liaquat Bagh to express solidarity with the protesters against inflated electricity bills and rising inflation.

JI acting Emir Liaquat Baloch received the delegation as the chief of the party Hafiz Naeemur Rehman had left the country on Thursday to attend the funeral of Hamas political head Ismail Haniyeh in Qatar.

Speaking on the occasion, PTI Information Secretary Shuaib Shaheen said the delegation had come to express solidarity with the JI workers on the directives of Imran Khan. He assured the protesters that the PTI was with the JI workers for their demands. He said the government should stop violation of the constitution. “We do not expect anything good from this form 47 government.”

He said a movement had started against the government as people wanted to get their due rights. He said it was time to stand up against the government that was formed after the election rigging.

We have started protest for people’s rights which will continue until govt accepts our demands, says Liaquat Baloch

He congratulated the JI for staging a successful sit-in and said the PTI leadership and workers would support them. He said PTI founder Imran Khan had supported the JI for its demands.

Earlier, JI acting emir Liaquat Baloch announced that there will be a ‘Gaza March’ on August 3 and a solidarity day with Kashmiris will be observed on August 5 at the sit-in.

“JI has started the sit-in for people’s rights and the protest will continue until the demands are accepted,” he said.

Speaking at a press conference at the sit-in, he said that the JI emir had left for Qatar to attend the funeral of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. “JI has played an important role in global Islamic movements,” he said.

The sit-in has entered its second week. He said for the last eight days men, women, farmers, labourers, traders and , students are supporting the sit-in. People are hopeful that they will get relief as a result of the sit-in.

“We would get our rights and we hope that the tax burden on the salaried class will be removed.” The JI leader said that political parties had always launched movements on people’s issues. Sit-ins and protests are part of Pakistan’s politics and we are holding the sit-in demanding relief for the masses.

Mr Baloch, who is also the convener of the negotiation committee of JI, said the matter of talks was in the government’s court. He said when the JI started the sit-in, the government itself had contacted its leaders and said it was serious about meeting the demands and solving the problems.

“If the government will not give relief to the people, the movement against their incompetence will go further. Now it is up to the government to end its luxurious lifestyle and privileges and give relief to the people,” he said.

Mr Baloch also said the situation in the region was very bad at present. “People want peace and an end to terrorism. It is in the interest of the nation that the government should complete the gas pipeline project with Iran soon.”

He said the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Palestinian resistance movement, had created more complications.

“Palestinians are fighting for their defence and rights. The government of Pakistan should come up with a strong stance on the issue of Palestine,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2024