A major breakthrough between the government and Jamaat-e-Islami is expected before the long march reaches Multan. According to sources, the government delegation has offered Jamaat-e-Islami a major public relief package. Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary Information Shakil Tarabi says the government fears that if the party’s sit-in in Islamabad continues for a long time, Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf could join hands, making it difficult for the government to control the situation.
During the fifth round of talks, the government delegation made it clear that implementation of the relief package would be subject to final approval by Jamaat-e-Islami’s technical committee. The government delegation also assured the party that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had already been taken into confidence on the matter, and that a formal contact and meeting with Jamaat-e-Islami’s top leadership was expected immediately after his return to Pakistan.
It is worth mentioning that the government has also sought time from Jamaat-e-Islami’s leadership until the prime minister returns from the United States.
Jamaat-e-Islami sources say that if the government demonstrates genuine seriousness about providing relief, a temporary pause in the long march could be considered. However, the movement will not end until the petroleum levy is completely abolished. Jamaat-e-Islami also wants the negotiations to move towards providing relief to the public.
A day earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami Deputy Emir and head of its negotiating committee Liaquat Baloch had also warned that if relief was not provided to the public, sit-ins from across the country would move towards Islamabad.
Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Secretary Information and Broadcasting Shakil Tarabi told a British website that government ministers had requested that the long march be postponed for one month, but Jamaat-e-Islami did not accept the request.
Shakil Tarabi said government ministers had indicated that Emir of Jamaat-e-Islami Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman could be connected by telephone today with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is currently in the United States.
He said that if the prime minister gave a concrete assurance, the long march, which is currently approaching Multan, could be stopped there for the agreed period, until the deadline given by the prime minister for reducing or abolishing the levy expires.
The secretary of information said the government fears that if Jamaat-e-Islami’s sit-in in Islamabad continues for a long time, Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf could join hands, making it difficult for the government to control the situation.
Speaking to Pakistan Matters, Shakil Tarabi said the government was putting forward some proposals, and if the prime minister makes contact, Emir of Jamaat-e-Islami Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman would make the final decision on whether to stop or continue the march.
He said Jamaat-e-Islami’s leadership had assured the government that the demands of the two parties were separate, although both parties support each other’s positions.
It is pertinent to mention that Jamaat-e-Islami’s train march will reach Multan today. The train march is being led by Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman himself.
