RAWALPINDI: There was no headway in talks between the government and the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on Sunday, as the latter claimed that no one from the government approached the political party for talks over the past three days.

The JI has been encamped at Liaquat Bagh for the past 10 days, creating difficulties for people living in the vicinity of the protest site, especially for those who reside in areas around Liaquat Bagh and Committee Chowk. One side of the road from Moti Mahal to Liaquat Bagh was still closed to traffic, causing jams on the other side. Similarly, the Liaquat Bagh metro station was also closed and commuters were using Marir Chowk or Committee Chowk metro stations to avail the bus service.

The movement of residents was severely hampered due to the sit-in, making it difficult for them to reach government and private offices. For instance, the Rawalpindi Development Authority, the Water and Sanitation Agency, the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation, the District Education Authority, and the Directorate of Colleges had seen low attendance over the past week.

Speaking to Dawn, JI leader Raza Shah said that the sit-in would continue till their demands were accepted. He referred to a JI protest in Karachi, saying a few years ago the JI protest against K-Electric had ended after 29 days only after their demands were accepted.

Jamaat leader claims no contact with govt representatives over past three days; residents complain of noise pollution, express security concerns

“Patience is the best thing in such dharna politics and we will not leave the place until our demands are fulfilled. We had two plans: one is being implemented with sit-ins in Karachi and then Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta. The last option is that all the protesters will march to the D Chowk in front of Parliament House,” he said.

Speaking about the talks with the government, the JI leader said two rounds of talks between the party and the government were so far held and now it was up to the government to decide. “We will only go back after securing relief for the people. However, the government is still silent and talks have not been held for the past three days,” he said.

Wary of dharna politics

Residents, on the other hand, are wary of the ‘dharna politics’ as they navigate traffic jams and roadblocks on Murree Road. They are also insecure, fearing a clash between the protesters and law enforcers.

“As the dharna continued, we fear that there would be a clash between police and the participants in the streets any time so we keep our doors closed and have asked children not to go outside without any reason,” Arya Mohallah resident Mohammad Fayyaz said.

According to Mr Fayyaz, schools will open today and it will be difficult for us to send them to school. He said that women were also avoiding markets due to the sit-in.

Mohammad Niaz, who lives near Committee Chowk, said that traffic has been chaotic because of the movement of participants and the media on Murree Road. Nr Niaz said that the participants of the sit-in remained inside neighbourhood mosques throughout the afternoon seemingly to escape the heat. Another resident complained about noise pollution, saying the use of the loudspeaker for speeches by the sit-in participants was disrupting their sleeping schedule.

Meanwhile, JI chief Naeemur Rehman was in Karachi for the sit-in and his deputy chief Liaquat Baloch was the in-charge of the sit-in in his absence.

According to Mr Baloch, the sit-in will continue till their demands are met. He said there was no writ of government in any part of the country and the IPPs were looting people.

He said that people would not accept more inflation, adding that the government should end its anti-poor policies. “People will not pay capacity charges of IPPs, slab system should be abolished in electricity bills; rulers should use 1300cc vehicles, and free electricity, petrol, and other incentives should be abolished,” he said. He said that Jamaat-i-Islami has shared seven demands with the government in addition to a roadmap.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2024