No headway in talks as JI vows to stay put
There was no headway in talks between the government and the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) on Sunday, as the latter claimed that no one from the govt approached the political party for talks over the past three days.
The JI has been encamped at Liaquat Bagh for the past 10 days, creating difficulties for people living in the vicinity of the protest site, especially for those who reside in areas around Liaquat Bagh and Committee Chowk.
One side of the road from Moti Mahal to Liaquat Bagh was still closed to traffic, causing jams on the other side. Similarly, the Liaquat Bagh metro station was also closed and commuters were using Marir Chowk or Committee Chowk metro stations to avail the bus service.
The movement of residents was severely hampered due to the sit-in, making it difficult for them to reach government and private offices. For instance, the Rawalpindi Development Authority, the Water and Sanitation Agency, the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation, the District Education Authority, and the Directorate of Colleges had seen low attendance over the past week.
Speaking to Dawn, JI leader Raza Shah said that the sit-in would continue till their demands were accepted. He referred to a JI protest in Karachi, saying a few years ago the JI protest against K-Electric had ended after 29 days only after their demands were accepted.
Jamaat leader claims no contact with govt representatives over past three days; residents complain of noise pollution, express security concerns
“Patience is the best thing in such dharna politics and we will not leave the place until our demands are fulfilled. We had two plans: one is being implemented with sit-ins in Karachi and then Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta. The last option is that all the protesters will march to the D Chowk in front of Parliament House,” he said.