JI sit-in: Hafiz Naeem steps up pressure on govt, warns of shutting country

• Hafiz Naeem says JI will not budge from its demands.
• Says party will hold a rally on August 7 or 8 rally. 
• "Are you ready to enter PM House?" Naeem asks party activists. 
  

Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has stepped up pressure on the PML-N-led coalition government, warning that his party could shut the entire country if demands including slashing high power tariff and reviewing agreements with independent power producers (IPPs) are not met.

If the demands are not met, the Jamaat may go to the extent of shutting down the entire country, he warned while addressing the protesters on Rawalpindi's Murree Road on Monday as the sit-in entered its 11th day today.

The JI is on the streets, holding protests against inflated electricity bills and high taxes around the country, to mount pressure on the government to fulfil the party's demands. The government is engaging with the party to address its concerns in a bid to end its sit-in.

In today's address, the JI chief encouraged party activists to be on their marks. "Are you ready to barge into the Prime Minister's House?" he said, warning the government to "take notice," otherwise, the Jamaat will give the call for a march on the federal capital.

The JI is scheduled to hold a march on August 7 or 8, he stressed, adding that the party will meet today to decide the future course of action. However, the government committee formed to negotiate with the JI leadership is nowhere to be seen, Hafiz Naeem said.

The JI leader reiterated that the party would not budge from its demands, adding that the party does not want taxes on flour, sugar and baby milk powder.

The top leader of the religio-political party addressed President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, "What would happen if a helicopter could not arrive for you?" He referred to the fall of Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster following deadly protests.

Sheikh Hasina was at the helm of affairs by force, he said, stressing however, what happened earlier today in Bangladesh was beyond imagination.

Commenting further on the Bangladesh situation, Hafiz Naeem said that anyone who speaks against the ousted Bangladesh PM was declared a traitor.