Govt should not keep agreements with IPPs under wraps, insists Hafiz Naeem

RAWALPINI – Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman requested Monday that the government make ‘illegal’ agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) public.

Addressing the fourth-day JI sit-in, he lambasted the administration for excessive electricity bills that had resulted in suicides.

He praised the people for making history by turning out in droves and shown incredible fortitude during the sit-in.

He argued that the JI was the only party capable of truly representing Pakistan’s 250 million people.

Naeem chastised the government for creating obstacles for JI women workers in Lahore, claiming that it demonstrated the administration’s cowardice.

Taking the government to task over capacity payments to IPPs, the JI emir stated that individuals were not expected to pay both taxes and power bills, adding that “we have put across our demand to lift the capacity charges on electricity bills.”

He also asked the government to audit all IPPs, claiming that the Rs2,600 billion circular debt has taken a heavy toll on people’s life.

He also urged that the government take back gasoline and electrical facilities from civil servants, complaining that civil servants utilized 1300cc cars when they were only allowed to use 1000cc cars during the tenure of former Premier Junejo.

Speaking on petrol costs, he advocated for the removal of the petroleum levy and the adjustment of petroleum product prices appropriately.