Speaking at a press conference at Mansoorah on Monday, Naeem said JI would continue its campaign against the petroleum levy until the government accepted its demand for its complete abolition.
He acknowledged that the government had provided some relief in petroleum prices following the party’s protests but maintained that the measures were insufficient to address the financial burden on ordinary citizens.
JI Refuses to Abandon Demand for Levy Abolition
Naeem said government ministers had again contacted the party’s negotiating committee, but JI remained firm on its demand for the complete removal of the petroleum levy.
He said the party would continue its campaign until the government took concrete steps to reduce the burden on consumers.
The JI chief also indicated that he could make an important announcement following his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif if progress was made towards providing relief to the public.
Criticising the government’s economic policies, Naeem argued that ordinary citizens were facing an increasing tax burden while certain business groups continued to earn substantial profits.
He called for a reduction in the profit margins of oil refineries and oil marketing companies so that consumers could benefit from lower fuel prices. He also demanded a reduction in the policy rate and measures to eliminate interest-based economic practices.
Demands Withdrawal of K-P Emergency
Naeem condemned the imposition of an emergency in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, describing it as a violation of human rights. He called on the government to withdraw the measure.
The JI chief also criticised the country’s judicial system, pointing to the millions of cases pending in courts. He alleged that the 26th Constitutional Amendment had weakened the judiciary.
He further argued that extrajudicial killings could not resolve Pakistan’s underlying problems, calling for effective policies to address public grievances and improve governance.
Petrol Price Could Fall by Rs106 Per Litre if Levy, Some Taxes Removed: Hafiz Naeem
Calls for Stronger Support for Palestinians
Discussing the situation in Palestine, Naeem criticised the destruction in Gaza and the resulting food shortages. He said global powers and Muslim countries had failed to play an effective role in addressing the crisis.
He questioned the response of Muslim leaders and the Peace Board, calling for greater unity among Muslim countries and a stronger international effort to defend Palestinian rights.
How JI’s Petroleum Levy Campaign Reached This Stage
Jamaat-e-Islami intensified its campaign against the petroleum levy in August, organising demonstrations and sit-ins across the country over rising fuel prices, inflation and what it described as an additional tax burden on consumers.
On August 16, party workers staged sit-ins outside governors’ houses in provincial capitals, demanding the withdrawal of the levy and a reduction in petrol prices. The protests subsequently expanded to other cities, including Karachi, where JI established additional protest camps across Sindh.
On September 3, the government and JI agreed to establish technical committees to examine proposals for reducing the petroleum levy and fuel prices. During the first round of negotiations on September 7, the party submitted six proposals but insisted that its campaign would continue until meaningful relief was provided.
After the negotiations failed to resolve the dispute, Naeem announced a long march towards Islamabad for September 20.
The march began on the scheduled date, with participants travelling from Karachi by train. The caravan moved through Sukkur towards Multan, where Naeem addressed supporters.
The protest was subsequently suspended after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif telephoned the JI chief and requested a postponement to allow further negotiations.
JI agreed to give the government another opportunity for talks but maintained that it had not abandoned its demand for the complete abolition of the petroleum levy.
The latest warning of a possible march in mid-November signals that the party is prepared to resume street protests if negotiations fail to produce the relief it is seeking.
