Police have arrested leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami in different cities of Punjab, claims the spokesperson for the religious party.
The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) is holding sit-ins at main roads connecting cities today against the government. It said the government has failed to implement the Rawalpindi Agreement in 45-day deadline.
The JI is holding protests against the inflated electricity bills, demanding abolishment of IPPs agreement. JI Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rahman also called for the imposition of tax on vast land holders and exemption in taxes on common people and salaried class.
Rehman also announced that the JI would conduct referendum seeking public opinion on boycott of power bills. If the people voted in favour of the boycott, the JI would issue call accordingly, he said. The five-day referendum would held from October 23 to October 27, as per the JI Emir announcement.
The JI has planned to hold sit-ins in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta, Islamabad-Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Bannu, Mardan and other cities. Rahman will address the sit-in gathering in Karachi while JI secretary general Emirul Azim will speak to the public in Lahore.
The JI spokesperson said the police have arrested many of the party leaders ahead of sit-in. The police arrested party leadership in Khanewal, Vehari, Sahiwal and other cities, claims Qaisar Sharif, the JI information secretary.
He said the JI would hold peaceful protest and the government tactics to spread fear would not succeed. Condemning the arrests, he demanded immediate release of the leaders and workers.
He said the JI would force the government to provide relief to the masses, demanding decrease in electricity, gas and petrol prices.
