RAWALPINDI — Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has issued a direct ultimatum to the government: allow the party’s scheduled rally at Liaquat Bagh or prepare for a prolonged series of sit-ins across Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The standoff intensified early Friday after local authorities denied permission for the public gathering, citing security concerns and the enforcement of Section 144. JI leadership rejected the justification, calling the move a desperate attempt to stifle political dissent.
“We are not seeking permission; we are asserting our constitutional right,” said a senior JI spokesperson. “If they block Liaquat Bagh, they will find the entire city paralyzed by tomorrow morning.”
The threat puts the administration in a bind. With the capital already on high alert due to intelligence reports regarding potential unrest, the prospect of a sustained sit-in—a tactic that has historically paralyzed the twin cities—is a nightmare scenario for the Interior Ministry.
Police presence around Liaquat Bagh and key entry points into Islamabad has surged since midnight. Containers have been moved into position, effectively sealing off major intersections. For residents, the resulting gridlock has already turned the morning commute into a hours-long ordeal, a grim preview of what a full-scale protest would look like.
JI’s demand centers on the current economic trajectory, specifically rising electricity tariffs and the burden of taxes on the salaried class. While the government maintains that these measures are necessary to satisfy IMF conditions for a bailout, the party has successfully tapped into a growing vein of public frustration.
Legal experts point out that the administration’s reliance on Section 144—which bans public gatherings—is becoming an increasingly thin veil for suppressing opposition. Courts have frequently struck down such blanket bans, yet the practice persists whenever the political temperature rises.
As dusk approaches, the standoff remains fluid. The government has yet to offer a compromise, and JI leaders are currently huddled in emergency meetings to finalize their next move.
Should the rally be blocked, the party’s leadership has already authorized local chapters to initiate “chakka jam” strikes. Whether this ends in a negotiated path to the podium at Liaquat Bagh or a standoff that shuts down the capital depends on who blinks first.
