Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) leader Liaquat Baloch announced on Sunday that the government will form a technical committee to address issues related to power and tax hikes, with plans to finalize their “internal workings” by tomorrow. Despite this, the party’s ongoing sit-in at Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh will continue.
JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman had warned on Saturday that if the government did not address their concerns about soaring electricity bills and increased taxes, the protest in Rawalpindi could be expanded to other parts of the country.
As the protest entered its second day, Murree Road was closed to traffic from Marrir Chowk to Committee Chowk, with containers blocking the main route through the city. This disruption impacted local business activities.
Under pressure from JI, a government delegation led by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar engaged in talks with JI protesters on Saturday night. It was agreed that both sides would hold a formal discussion on Sunday to address JI’s demands, according to the government.
After the negotiations, Baloch told the media in Rawalpindi that a constructive first round of talks had been held and that his party had clarified its agenda. He emphasized that the protest was about public issues rather than personal party interests. The government acknowledged the demands and agreed to form a technical committee to review them. Baloch stated that further meetings would be scheduled as needed.
Tarar confirmed the formation of a technical committee and mentioned that the government had ordered the release of 35 detainees provided by JI. He assured that no political workers would be arrested moving forward.
Rehman, addressing the protest later, acknowledged the government’s engagement but cautioned against delays. He stressed that power and tax hikes were national issues, not just JI’s concerns, and reiterated the party’s commitment to peaceful constitutional protest.
He urged the government to address how ordinary citizens can manage with a minimum wage of Rs37,000 and how they could afford rising electricity costs. Rehman criticized independent power producers (IPPs) for opaque contracts and lamented that the salaried class in Pakistan faces higher taxes compared to India. He called for broad-based participation in the protest from all sectors of society.
The sit-in at Liaquat Bagh saw significant participation from individuals across central and southern Punjab, as well as parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Many protestors voiced their discontent with inflation and planned to remain at the site despite the hot weather.
On Friday, JI demanded the release of detained protesters to demonstrate the government’s seriousness in negotiations. The party’s protests in Islamabad led to multiple arrests and the imposition of Section 144, which restricts public assembly. Despite obstacles, JI activists continued their demonstration at D-Chowk.