LAHORE: Hafiz Naeem, Jamaat Islami Chief, criticized the Punjab government’s temporary relief on electricity bills as inadequate, during a press conference in Lahore.
“They are merely pacifying the public with this superficial charity,” stated the JI leader. “Relief should be extended to the entire country,” he added.
Naeem called for a permanent reduction in electricity bills and demanded a forensic audit of the Independent Power Producers (IPPs). He also announced that a protest strike planned for August 28 is expected to be highly successful.
“The ‘Tajir Dost Scheme’ has only served to harm traders,” he remarked. He emphasized the need for expanding the tax base and pointed out corruption within the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
According to Naeem, the relief promised by the government falls short of the capacity payments made to IPPs affiliated with associates of the Sharif family.
Discussing the political landscape, the JI leader commented on his party’s alliance with PTI, noting that while PTI stood to benefit more, they opted to withdraw. “Alliances cannot endure amidst such confusion,” Naeem observed.
He also called for a judicial inquiry into the incidents of May 09, asserting, “From day one, I have maintained that the government should resign.”
