Jamaat-e-Islami extends referendum on boycott of electricity bills that include municipal charges

KARACHI, Sep 25 (SABAH): Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi emir Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced to extend the referendum for another three days on boycott of electricity bills that include municipal charges and other unjust dues.

The Jamaat-e-Islami leader announced this while talking to the media during his visit to a referendum camp, setup at Gulshan-e-Iqbal area, here on Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that the referendum was extended to September 28 due to overwhelming response by Karachiites. He also appealed housewives and working women to participate in the said referendum. It is pertinent to mention here that a large number of Karachiites have already participated in the referendum at camps through the online link: https://forms.gle/Qke2pDa7xqkJQw1z9.

Engr Naeemur Rehman also appealed to students to host the referendum at their respective education institutes. He said that the JI would come up against the K-Electric mafia with a consensus of all segments of the society.  

He said that the Jamaat-e-Islami demands the authorities to exclude the municipal utility charges, other unjust taxes as well as the so-called fuel adjustment charges from the electricity bills. He also demanded of the government to revoke the license of the KE, nationalize the former KESC and hold a forensic audit of the company accounts. 

The Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi emir said that the party will engage all available forums till the justice is served to Karachiites. He said that the JI has already approached the judiciary and will utilize its democratic right of agitation against the mafia named K-Electric.

He added that the KE has become an anti-people mafia and the Jamaat-e-Islami would continue its struggle against this mafia till a logical conclusion.

Naeemur Rehman said that the only way forward in this regard was nationalization of the KE as in this the mega city would be able to have electricity as per it’s needs.

The JI leader lambasted the ruling regime as well as the PTI for sheltering and supporting the private company in an out of the way manner in order to have kickbacks and support for implementation on unconstitutional policies. He strongly criticized for PPP government in Sindh over its anti-people policies and asked about the fate of the tax collected by it.

He added that Karachiites pay all type of just and unjust taxes to play more than its due role to keep the country affairs running in a smooth way but the ruling parties keep Karachi and Karachiites deprived of even their basic rights. He also highlighted the issue of Rs50 billion in claw back to be paid by the KE to its consumers.

Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Younous Barai, Dr Fawad, Zahid Askari and others accompanied the JI leader during the visit.