Photo Express
Karachi: Jamaat-e-Islami and the business community have announced a protest on Monday in all the markets, major highways and public places of the city against the heavy electricity bills and taxes.
Under the chairmanship of Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, a consultative meeting was held at Noorhaq Institute of Karachi for all business organizations, market associations, industrial and labor organizations, minority communities, civil society, lawyers and scholars.
It has been unanimously decided in the meeting that a peaceful wheel jam and shutter down strike will be conducted against the heavy electricity bills and taxes.
In the consultative meeting, it was also agreed that on Monday, August 28, from 3 pm to 6 pm, protests will be held simultaneously in all markets and markets and the markets will remain closed, while under Jamaat-e-Islami, important public places and highways of the city will be closed. There will be demonstrations.
Hat Naeem said that the date of sit-in at Governor House will also be decided on Monday itself. The governor is the representative of the federation, so fight the Karachi issue, if he does not play a role in withdrawing the cruel increase in electricity bills before the sit-in, the governor’s house will be besieged.
In the consultative meeting, it was unanimously demanded that for an immediate solution to the problem, the caretaker prime minister should announce the immediate withdrawal of the increase of 7.5 rupees in the electricity rates and withdraw all the unfair taxes. No vehicle should come to cut power, if K Electric staff tries to achieve nefarious goals by fighting with the public, then the responsibility of the situation will be placed on the government and K Electric administration.
In the meeting, it was also decided to delay the payment of electricity bills for 15 days. In the meeting, it was clearly stated that increased electricity rates and taxes will not be accepted under any circumstances.
The participants demanded that the lines of K Electric should be cancelled, the monopoly of the private company in Karachi should be ended and other companies should also be included.
Atiq Mir, Leader of Karachi Traders Union, Sharjeel Gopalani, Leader of Timber Market Association, Nazim F Haji, Civil Society Representative and Social Leader, Mahmood Hamid, President of Small Traders Karachi and other business leaders addressed the meeting.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman while briefing the media representatives said that 662 of K Electric National Grid, 177 billion rupees of Sui Southern Gas Company is insolvent and it owes 50 billion rupees to the people of Karachi in the form of clawback. Why is the license not cancelled, if a citizen of Karachi pays Kabul for a month, why is his connection cut off?
He said that the Caretaker Prime Minister talks very well and intellectually, but the problems of the people and the hunger of the poor cannot be eliminated by these words. Taxes should also be collected from those who own more than 25 hectares of land, last year landlords and vaders paid taxes of only 4 billion rupees annually, while the working, professional class paid taxes of 3 billion rupees annually.
Hafiz Naeem said that whether it is the army, the bureaucracy or the members of the assembly, all should sacrifice their part, the people will also support. Choose a 1000cc vehicle for all your ministerial advisers and officers too.
He further said that the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and the Federal Chamber of Commerce also have to come forward and play their role regarding the electricity bills. And so are investors.
Atiq Mir said that we have to unite and stand against cruel electricity bills, we have to stabilize our emotions and morale, caretaker prime minister has also called a meeting regarding electricity bills. He said that he will once again request Monis Alvi to delay the payment of bills for 15 days, all kinds of protest, sit-in and strike will be done against the heavy electricity bills.
Sharjeel Goplani said that I express my gratitude to the business community and public for their support on the FIR registered against me, to get out of the current situation and against the brutal increase in electricity rates. Aggressive measures must be taken together.
Mahmood Hamid said that from the video released by K Electric CEO Monis Alvi, it seems like the representative of East India Company is talking, inquiries are being made against Sharjeel Gopalani, the business community is scared of threats and lawsuits. No, we will continue to fight for our rights, the monopoly of K Electric, cruel taxation and looting will not be accepted at all.
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