Hafiz Naeemur Rehman says the next phase of protests will focus on high fuel prices and the petroleum levy, while he welcomes the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement as an important development for the Muslim world.
Protests Planned Across Pakistan
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced on Sunday that the party will hold simultaneous sit-ins across all four provinces on August 16 to protest high fuel prices, the petroleum development levy and rising inflation.
Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar, Hafiz Naeem said the sit-ins would be held outside the Punjab Chief Minister’s House and the Governor Houses in Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said the party would continue its campaign to pressure the government to provide relief to people facing rising living costs.
JI Demands Lower Petrol Prices
Hafiz Naeem argued that petrol should cost around Rs225 per litre, criticising the government for failing to provide sufficient relief despite the end of the recent regional conflict.
Global oil prices had risen during the US-Iran conflict and amid disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, a major international energy transit route.
The JI chief alleged that the government had generated substantial revenue through the petroleum development levy and claimed the mechanism was being used to conceal corruption.
He urged citizens to participate in the planned demonstrations and called on other political parties to support the movement.
Allegations Against FBR
Hafiz Naeem also levelled allegations of corruption against the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
He claimed that corruption worth Rs1.3 trillion was taking place within the tax authority and alleged that taxes were being collected from some individuals who had no income.
The JI leader criticised political parties for remaining largely silent on the issue.
He described the party’s August 7 nationwide protests as historic and said emergency services, including ambulances, were not obstructed during the demonstrations.
Nationwide Protest Campaign Intensifies
JI had previously organised protests across Pakistan against inflation, higher fuel prices, the petroleum development levy and increased taxes.
The demonstrations included sit-ins and road blockades at hundreds of locations, including major cities and provincial capitals.
Following those protests, the party announced that it would move into a new phase of its campaign and increase pressure on the federal government.
Pakistan Belongs to Its People, Not to Generals or Politicians: Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Hafiz Naeem
The party says its primary objective is to secure relief for people struggling with the rising cost of living, particularly through reductions in petroleum prices.
Hafiz Naeem Welcomes Makkah Defence Pact
The JI emir also welcomed the recently signed Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, describing it as an important development for the Muslim world.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye signed the agreement on Friday, establishing a collective security framework under which an armed attack against one member would be considered an attack against all three countries.
Hafiz Naeem expressed hope that Iran and other Muslim countries could eventually join the arrangement.
He said the agreement should develop into a broader network of cooperation among Islamic countries rather than remaining limited to the three signatories.
Reaction to Governance Debate
Responding to remarks by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi regarding the possible “collapse” of the country’s existing governance system, Hafiz Naeem said any acknowledgement of failure should be followed by a comprehensive review of the system.
He noted that Pakistan’s Constitution already provides a mechanism for increasing the number of administrative units.
However, he warned that any move outside the constitutional framework could create controversy and raise questions about its legitimacy.
JI Maintains Contact With Opposition Alliance
Commenting on political alliances, Hafiz Naeem said JI remained in contact with the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP), an alliance of opposition parties.
He acknowledged, however, that political alliances had not produced significant results in the past.
The JI leader suggested that political parties should continue their individual protest campaigns while also developing a united position on issues directly affecting the public.
With the next round of sit-ins scheduled for August 16, JI is now preparing to expand its campaign from individual protests to simultaneous demonstrations across the country’s four provinces.
