Key Takeaways
- Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced 510 sit-ins across Pakistan.
- Protests will block major roads starting from 4pm on Friday, with ambulances allowed to pass.
- JI demands the price of petrol be reduced to Rs225 per litre and criticizes government spending.
Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan (JI) has announced a nationwide campaign against the petroleum levy, with 510 sit-ins planned across the country. The protests are set to begin on Friday at 4pm.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, JI Emir, warned that if authorities attempt to obstruct these peaceful demonstrations, they will escalate into a broader anti-government movement.
Rehman called for the price of petrol to be reduced to Rs225 per litre and accused the government of using the levy as 'extortion' rather than a tax. He alleged that the government was collecting Rs125 in taxes on every litre while spending lavishly on luxury aircraft and expensive vehicles.
The JI chief highlighted the disparity between global crude oil prices and local petrol prices, stating that despite international prices falling to $74 per barrel, domestic fuel costs remained high. He also criticized the government for not investing the collected Rs8 trillion from the petroleum levy into upgrading oil refineries or infrastructure.
Rehman urged people from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir to participate in large numbers, with a call for young people to bring their motorcycles onto the roads. He emphasized that these demonstrations would remain peaceful but stressed the importance of public participation.
The Women’s Wing of JI also participated in the rally, with Dr Humaira Tariq, Samiha Raheel Qazi, Samina Saeed, and Uzma Imran addressing the gathering. They echoed their leader's concerns about rising inflation, household hardships, and unequal access to education.
Rehman further criticized the government for becoming subservient to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), imposing taxes and approving an anti-people budget without reducing state expenditures as recommended by the IMF.
JI Lahore Emir Advocate Ziauddin Ansari added that women were struggling with household expenses due to inflation, often forced to sell their jewelry to support families. He also highlighted issues of unequal access to education and restrictions on public dissent.
Enough is enough.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, JI Emir
