Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced on Sunday that the party would launch a nationwide shutter-down strike after 12th Rabi ul Awal, as its ongoing sit-ins in provincial capitals entered their eighth day.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Hafiz Naeem said the party’s protest campaign was progressing successfully and reiterated his demand for a reduction in petroleum product prices.
According to the Islamic calendar, 12th Rabi ul Awal falls on August 26 this year and is observed as Eid Milad un Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him), marking the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The JI chief said the party would expand its campaign after the religious occasion if the government failed to take practical measures to address its concerns.
Protests Will Continue Until Demands Are Implemented
Hafiz Naeem made it clear that government assurances alone would not be enough to end the protests.
He said negotiations could no longer be based on requests for protesters to end their sit-ins in exchange for verbal commitments to consider their demands. According to the JI leader, the protests would only end once the government actually implemented the demands.
“The sit-in will end only when the government implements our demands in practical terms,” he said.
The party has been calling for measures to reduce the burden of rising petroleum prices on consumers and has criticised what it describes as excessive government expenditure.
Hafiz Naeem also criticised the country’s economic situation, arguing that Pakistan could not make meaningful progress while flour and sugar mafias continued to operate. He further highlighted difficulties faced by farmers in obtaining fertiliser at affordable prices.
Sit-Ins Underway in Major Cities
The JI protests have been continuing since August 16, with demonstrations staged at important government locations in several provincial capitals.
Supporters have been holding a sit-in outside the Punjab chief minister’s residence in Lahore, while similar protests have been staged outside governor houses in Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar.
Government Raises Petrol Price by Rs5.77, Diesel by Rs6.47 Per Litre
The demonstrations come as households and businesses face growing concerns over fuel costs, inflation and high electricity bills. Changes in petroleum pricing have also increased uncertainty for transport and other sectors that depend heavily on fuel.
Government Under Pressure Over Fuel Prices
The federal government is facing increasing pressure over successive increases in petroleum prices and their wider impact on the cost of living.
The situation has become more complicated following a shift from a 15-day fuel price review mechanism to a daily system amid fluctuations in international oil prices. Renewed hostilities in the Middle East have contributed to volatility in global energy markets, adding further uncertainty to domestic fuel pricing.
The issue has also prompted protests and demands from transporters and petroleum dealers, who say higher fuel costs have a direct impact on operating expenses and the prices of goods and services.
Transporters and Dealers Also Raise Concerns
Earlier this week, the All Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance suspended its nine-day nationwide strike for 40 days after receiving assurances from the federal and Sindh governments on several demands, including issues related to petroleum pricing.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association had earlier issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the government, calling for outstanding issues to be resolved and commitments made by the petroleum minister to be implemented.
With several groups raising concerns over fuel prices and their economic impact, the government faces growing pressure to find a solution. The JI’s announcement of a nationwide shutter-down strike after 12th Rabi ul Awal could further intensify the pressure if no agreement is reached before the planned expansion of its protest campaign.
