• Party warns of nationwide wheel-jam strike if demands face delays; says protests will continue alongside negotiations• Hafiz Naeem claims demonstrations forced cuts in power, fuel prices; announces 50 million-signature campaign for economic relief
ISLAMABAD: Formal negotiations between the government and Jamaat-i-Islami will begin on Monday, the party’s chief announced on Saturday, while warning that JI will launch a nationwide “wheel-jam” strike if the administration delays approving public demands for economic relief.
Addressing a news conference in the federal capital alongside JI deputy chief Mian Muhammad Aslam and Islamabad Emir Nasrullah Randhawa, JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman stated that sit-in protests across the country will continue simultaneously with the talks.
Mr Rehman levelled severe criticism at the current administration and bureaucracy, describing the government as an unconstitutional “Form-47 arrangement” that imposes the burden of its inefficiency and extravagances on the public through heavy taxation.
Highlighting that JI’s protests have completed 21 days with active sit-ins at dozens of locations—including 20 sites in Balochistan and Swat—he maintained that public pressure forced electricity prices down by Rs10 to Rs12 per unit.
