Jamat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz NaeemurRehmanhasonce again called for a reduction in electricity prices.HafizNaeemurRehman warned that if the agreement was not implemented inthe promised 34 days, there would be long marches from all parts of thecountry.Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Rehman highlighted thepresence of Karachi’s town chairmen alongside him. He criticised MQM andPPP for efforts to prevent local body elections until the last moment.
He said that local body institutions have been taken over by thegovernment despite that JI had won in nine towns.Heemphasised that Karachi was of great significance for job creationand contributed half of Pakistan’s economic output. He further notedthat provincial government collected 97% of its revenue from Karachi.
Hafiz Naeem pointed out that it has been over a year since the localgovernment was established, and in developed countries, localgovernments held significant powers including maintaining law and order.He further alleged that PPP had manipulated local body results in Sindh.JI Emir noted that promises made by PPP after the elections remainunfulfilled. He further criticised the PPP for taking control of localbody elections and the city’s resources.Rehman said that despite being elected over a year ago, Karachi’s townchairmen still lacked authority.“The Karachi Solid Waste Management isunder the Mayor-in-charge, yet cleanliness and attention to wastemanagement are lacking,” Rehmansaid.He condemned the PPP’s performance, alleging it for corruption andmismanagement. He criticised the federal government’s policies,particularly the imposition of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) andtheir high costs.HafizNaeem demanded a reduction in tariffs, and rejected the receivingof capacity payments, which he said were harming industries.The JI would continue to watchdog on government’s implementation onagreements, Rehman said.
