Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Munim Zafar Khan has declared that the success of the nationwide shutter-down strike on August 28 will compel the government to address the demands of the public and traders. Khan called for the withdrawal of oppressive taxes, reduction in hefty electricity bills, and a review of unfavorable agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs). He criticized the substantial payments to IPPs, noting they exceed even the national defense budget.
Khan announced that Jamaat-e-Islami will launch a major “Public Contact and Membership Drive” from September 1, focusing on both national budget issues and local citizen concerns. This announcement coincides with the 83rd anniversary of the party’s establishment on August 26. He highlighted the party’s enduring struggle, which began with MaulanaMaududi’s vision of an Islamic governance system,and emphasized that this struggle continues today.
During a meeting in Saeedabad, Baldia Town, Khan addressed party workers, asserting that Jamaat-e-Islami is the only party addressing genuine public issues while other parties are preoccupied with power politics. He criticized the government’s handling of economic policies, which he claimed have exacerbated financial strain on all social classes. He pointed out that high electricity bills and new taxes on essentials like milk and stationery are adding to the public’s burden. Khan also condemned the government’s failure to tax landowners and the imposition of additional taxes on salaried individuals.
He decried the practice of charging for electricity not consumed or generated, and criticized the ongoing issues with Karachi’s water supply, sanitation, and road conditions.
