Govt, Jamaat-e-Islami agree on talks, but protests to continue
The Pakistani government and the Jamaat-e-Islami party have agreed to form committees to negotiate public relief measures regarding inflation and petroleum levies. Despite the agreement to talk, the party plans to continue its ongoing protests and sit-ins.
Why it matters
The ongoing civil unrest and economic negotiations reflect the significant pressure of inflation on the Pakistani political landscape.
The government and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) have agreed to form committees to discuss ways to provide relief to the public, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal said on Thursday.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Lahore on Thursday along with JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Iqbal said the government had already constituted a committee and asked the JI to form its own team.
“We have formed a committee and have also requested the Jamaat-e-Islami to form a team,” the planning minister said. He added that the government is ready to hold talks with the JI’s negotiating team and would present its position before it.
“If the Jamaat-e-Islami has proposals to reduce the petroleum levy, we will be happy to consider them,” Iqbal said, adding that the government wanted to provide maximum relief to the public.
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