The government will convene the fourth session of discussions with the party led by Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman today, according to Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, who has emphasized “positive progress” in the negotiations as Jamaat-e-Islami’s continuous protest against inflation approaches its thirteenth day.
Tarar reported that the talks had gone well and that good progress had been made. He also mentioned that the parties had resolved to meet again on Wednesday, this coming today. Citing the secrecy of the discussions, he further declined to provide any information.
For around two weeks, JI employees have been holding a sit-in in Rawalpindi, demanding that the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif alter tax rates, reassess contracts with independent power producers (IPPs), and lower fuel and energy costs in order to alleviate the situation.Three rounds of negotiations between the government and the JI delegation, headed by senior leader Liaquat Baloch, have taken place since the demonstration began; nevertheless, neither party has yet to announce any notable progress.
The fourth round of negotiations is scheduled for Tuesday after JI chairman Hafiz Naeem threatened to shut down the nation if their demands are not satisfied on Monday while addressing demonstrators on Rawalpindi’s Murree Road.
