Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has instructed party workers to protest vehemently and serve as the "people's voice" in response to the rising electricity bills that have alarmed already overburdened customers.
PPP Secretary General Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari instructed the party workers to demonstrate at the tehsil and municipal union council levels. He said that every resident of the country is concerned about the high electricity costs and that the PPP workers should start speaking out against increased electricity pricing.
He said that every resident of the country is concerned about the high electricity costs and that the PPP workers should start speaking out against increased electricity pricing.
The call for protest comes as demonstrators around the country demand lower electricity prices and the elimination of extra utility taxation, threatening to stop paying their bills if their demands are not granted.
Political groups including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) condemned the increase and new levies on electricity bills in protests staged by residents and traders in several cities across the country.
JI chief Sirajul Haq declared a "peaceful" countrywide demonstration for September 2 (Saturday) during a ceremony for JI's 82nd Foundation Day in Ichhra on Sunday.
He urged the people to speak out against injustice and actively take part in demonstrations, and he said that the party would plan demonstrations in front of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) headquarters if the government upholds its decision.
He said that the poor economic policies promoted by previous governments of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and the PPP were the primary cause of the current inflation.
He said that the former rulers planted landmines for the people by signing an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).