ACCUSING the Government of backtracking from its commitment on the issue of electricity tariff, Amir Jamat-e-Islami (JI) Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has announced country-wide protests from September 29 including sit-ins and blocking of roads and highways. He said the options of wheel-jam and a march on the Federal Capital are also there in October besides holding a referendum of the people on the issue.
The JI successfully organized protest meetings and sit-ins in support of the grievances of the people vis-à-vis unbearable electricity tariff, prompting the Government to hold talks with the party, which culminated into an agreement envisaging resolution of the issue within 45 days. No doubt, apart from verbal assurances, the Punjab Government came out with a relief plan for electricity consumers for two months – August and September but so far no tangible outcome is visible on the main issue of down-ward revision of the back-breaking prices of electricity. It appears either the Government was not sincere in giving the timeframe of 45 days for resolution of the issue or it is clueless about what to do in the face of IMF pressure, rising circular debt and non-cooperative attitude of the independent power producers. We have been emphasizing in these columns, time and again, that people have lost patience and a satisfactory solution to the issue of highest electricity tariff in the region, which is not only compounding economic woes of the people but has also become one of the major hurdles in the way of progress and growth of the economy. We have been opposing the policy of protests and strikes but the dilly-dallying tactics of the Government are forcing people to raise their voices loudly.
