JI holds country wide demonstrations against load shedding

Lahore : Country wide demonstrations were held against oppressive and unscheduled load shedding of electricity on Friday on the appeal of the Ameer, Jamaat e Islami, Pakistan, Senator Sirajul Haq.

Protest rallies were held in front of the offices of the power distribution companies in the federal capital, the provincial capitals and big and small cities. JI leaders led the rallies,

In the Punjab capital, a sit in was staged in front of the LESCO head office. JI Secretary General, Liaqat Baloch, led the protest. Speaking on the occasion, he said that electricity was now a basic necessity for every citizen but the rulers had failed to meet this basic need just as they had failed to  provide health, education, security jobs and shelter to the masses.

He recalled that the PML(N) leadership had made tall claims  of overcoming energy crisis within six months of taking over, but the party government had failed to resolve this issue even after being in power for four years.

He said that the helpless consumers had to foot fat electricity bill every month even though they did not get electricity for long durations.

The JI central leader said that the consumers in Pakistan were paying the highest electricity tariff in the world only because of the wrong priorities and the favouritism of the rulers while electricity theft was going on under the nose of the rulers.

JI deputy chief Dr Farid Ahmed Piracha addressed the rally at Gujranwala and criticized the government for failing to fulfill its promise of overcoming energy crisis. JI Punjab chief Mian Maqsood led the rally at Faisalabad and a large crowd gathered outside the FESCO office set electricity bills on fire.

Demonstrations were also held at Hyderabad, Quetta, in Islamabad, Peshawar, Sukkur and Karachi.

Ameer, Jamaat e Islami, Pakistan, Senator Sirajul Haq, has announced countrywide protests in front of WAPDA offices if load shedding and over billing were not controlled.

Addressing a large public meeting at Batkhela, Malakand, on Friday, he said that the rulers were a total failure in solving the problems of the masses while they were quite successful in protecting their personal interests.

Siraj ul Haq said that the Supreme Court had announced its verdict in the Panama leaks case and the NAB, FIA, and ISI would hold further investigations. He said that the Prime Minster had been proved an accused and he should resign. He said that if the Prime Minister was found innocent during the fresh investigations, he could resume his office after two months. A large number of the local people announced their joining the JI on the occasion.

The JI chief said that corruption in the country was the gift of the present rulers but added that corruption and Pakistan could to go together any more.  He said that corruption had become the symbol of the ruling elite.

He said there was state of uncertainty in the country at present and the corrupt rulers had deprived the masses of their peace. It was due to corruption that there was darkness all around and the rulers did not have any solution for the problems of the people.

The nation, he said, wanted accountability of all those who had properties in London, Dubai, etc.

Sirajul Haq said that hundreds of the residents from Malakand division were in jail in Saudi Arabia and the JI had tried for the solution of their problem by sending its parliamentary delegation. He said the JI was still continuing its efforts but there was no support from the government.

He was sure that the JI would emerge as a strong political force in the next elections.