PM Asks JI Chief To Delay Islamabad Protest March

News Desk
ISLAMABAD:Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif contacted Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman on telephone to formally request the postponement of the party’s planned protest march towards Islamabad. The high-level telecommunication between the country’s chief executive and the prominent opposition religious-political figure highlights ongoing efforts by the federal administration to defuse political tensions and maintain public order in the federal capital.
During the telephonic conversation, the prime minister emphasized the importance of prioritizing national economic stability and public convenience over agitation.
Sources close to both leaders indicate that the premier urged the JI leadership to engage in constructive dialogue with the government to address their grievances, particularly concerning soaring utility bills, taxation structures, and inflation, rather than resorting to street power that could disrupt normal civic life and commercial activities.
The appeal comes at a critical juncture when the government is striving to implement stringent structural reforms under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) program, making political stability paramount for investor confidence.
A prolonged political standoff in the capital could severely hinder administrative functions and diplomatic engagements, placing additional pressure on an already fragile economic recovery path marked by high living costs and fiscal consolidation measures.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s central leadership is expected to deliberate on the prime minister’s appeal during an emergency consultative meeting at the party headquarters.
While the government hopes for a negotiated suspension of the march, the final decision by Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman will critically shape the immediate political dynamics and relations between the ruling coalition and opposition forces in the country.