Government must abolish extortion levies; the movement and sit-in will continue until relief is provided to the public.
Unannounced load-shedding despite a 49,000 MW generation capacity is causing losses worth PKR 150 to 200 billion to the economy.
Billions of rupees are being extracted from the public under the guise of capacity payments to IPPs; traders and farmers are on the verge of ruin.
The “Para Force” has become a tool for harassing traders and collecting extortion.
Press Conference by Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore, Zia-ud-Din Ansari Advocate, at the Chairing Cross Sit-in outside Chief Minister House.
LAHORE (Umar Hayat CH): Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore, Zia-ud-Din Ansari Advocate, addressed a press conference alongside senior party leaders during the ongoing sit-in at Chairing Cross, outside the Chief Minister House. Deputy Ameer JI Lahore Engineer Akhlaq Ahmad, Spokesperson JI Pakistan Shakeel Ahmad Turabi, and other prominent leaders were also present on the occasion.Severely criticizing the ongoing energy crisis, Zia-ud-Din Ansari Advocate stated that the total national demand for electricity is approximately 22,000 MW, against an installed generation capacity of 49,000 MW. Despite this capacity, unannounced load-shedding lasting four hours or more is being imposed across the country. He emphasized that a shortfall of merely 4,000 MW proves that Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are under-generating while unjustified capacity payments are being extracted from the public through heavy taxation. This crisis is causing economic losses between PKR 150 to 200 billion and threatens a 4% drop in overall economic activity.He declared that the business community has extended its full support for the nationwide strike called on September 3. Marking the 16th day of the Chairing Cross sit-in, he asserted that Jamaat-e-Islami is fully committed to fighting for public rights and will not back down, even if the sit-in must continue for 116 days.The Ameer of JI Lahore added that the government has utterly failed to provide relief to the common man, traders, and farmers. Agriculture has been devastated, while the burden of taxation continues to fall heavily on ordinary citizens instead of big feudal lords, landlords, and tycoons. Highlighting the plight of traders, he noted that the “Para Force” has turned into a mechanism for extortion and harassment, yet the Chief Minister has taken no action despite being aware of the situation.He further mentioned that the third phase of the protest sit-in is underway in Quetta, while the government proved its cowardice by denying permission for a public gathering at Liaquat Bagh. Zia-ud-Din Ansari Advocate challenged the government, stating that if the rulers consult Jamaat-e-Islami, the party can offer practical solutions to abolish extortion, petroleum levies, and unnecessary taxes. He remarked that if high-ranking bureaucrats and ministers cannot provide solutions, they have no right to hold office. He demanded that rulers, top officials, and judges immediately reduce their official perks and privileges, ensuring that national resources are spent on public welfare rather than the elite class.
