Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi’s Amir, MunemZafar Khan, announced a planned protest and sit in at the Governor House on today July 31, to address grievances over electricity tariffs and taxation policies. The demonstration will be preceded by a rally from Masjid Khizra in Saddar. In a press conference held at Idara Noor Haq, Zafar Khan criticized the current policies related to electricity tariffs and taxation. He condemned the proposed increase in fuel adjustment charges by K-Electric, which seeks an additional Rs 5.45 per unit, and called for the cancellation of controversial IPP agreements and the revocation of K-Electric’s license.
Zafar Khan demanded that the government abolish harsh taxes on salaried individuals and traders while imposing taxes on the elite and landowners. He argued that the recent budget disproportionately burdens the common people, citing the stark contrast between taxes on agricultural income and those on salaried classes. He highlighted the plight of Karachi’s residents, lamenting the escalating electricity bills and inadequate infrastructure. Zafar Khan pointed out that Karachi’s electricity provider, K-Electric, has been exploiting the public with continual tariff hikes and poor service.
He urged all sectors of society, including businessmen, workers, lawyers, students, and teachers, to join the protest and support the cause. Zafar Khan also criticized the historical handling of K-Electric’s privatization and ongoing corruption involving IPPs, emphasizing that Jamaat-e-Islami remains the sole political force consistently opposing these injustices and fighting for the public’s rights both in courts and on the streets.
