ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has announced sit-ins at three places in Islamabad and Rawalpindi because of the arrest of its members and road blockages at D-Chowk.
JI workers removed obstacles at Faizabad, opening the way for a convoy to enter Rawalpindi and set up at Liaquat Bagh.
JI’s main spokesperson, Qaiser Sharif, announced that because of the arrests and blockages at D-Chowk, JI will hold sit-ins at three places. “We will hold sit-ins at Murree Road in Rawalpindi, Zero Point, and Chungi No. 26,” he said.
The sit-in at Murree Road will be led by Amirul Azeem, Deputy Amir Dr. Osama Razi, and other provincial and district leaders. JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman will lead the sit-in at Zero Point, joined by Deputy Amir Liaqat Baloch, Mian Muhammad Aslam, and other provincial and Islamabad leaders.
The third sit-in at Chungi No. 26 will be led by Deputy Amir Dr. Attaur Rehman, Professor Muhammad Ibrahim, and other provincial leaders.
These sit-ins will persist until their demands, including the shutdown of IPPs and relief from tax burdens on the salaried class, are fulfilled.
Qaiser Sharif declared, “Under the direction of JI leader Hafiz Naeem, wherever there is an obstacle, participants will hold a sit-in. Jamaat-e-Islami will now conduct multiple sit-ins.”
He claimed that the police had arrested 1,150 of their workers and subjected dozens to violence. “Seeing the large public turnout at the sit-ins, the government is panicking and resorting to fascism,” he added.
Police arrested several Jamaat-e-Islami workers ahead of their planned sit-in against inflation, taxes, and electricity bills at D-Chowk in the federal capital. In response, JI altered their strategy, directing workers to gather at H-8 Bridge while a convoy led by JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman entered Islamabad.
Hafiz Naeem arrived at the Islamabad Expressway sit-in to address the participants. In his speech at the sit-in, Hafiz Naeem said, “Billions of rupees are being stolen, and the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are taking advantage of our country. We have started our sit-in. We have one request for the government: help the people and close down the IPPs.”
He added, “Protesting is our right as citizens. The government must free our arrested workers and not block our way. If they do, we will hold sit-ins all the way from Karachi to Chitral.”
A private TV channel reported that police blocked all routes to D-Chowk with containers to prevent the sit-in, citing security concerns, and detained several workers in Islamabad.
Police sources indicated that no formal arrests were recorded; individuals were detained to prevent public disorder. No demonstrations had yet reached the press club, where police had deployed vans and personnel.
To prevent people from reaching the sit-in, containers were placed at city entry points, and only one lane remained open on major roads, leading to long traffic queues and inconvenience for residents.
JI workers blocked one side of Murree Road, threatening to block both sides if the routes to D-Chowk were not opened. At H-8 Interchange, workers gathered, some wearing masks of JI leader Hafiz Naeem and chanting slogans against the government.
