Key Takeaways
- Jamaat-i-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announces a march to Islamabad on September 20.
- The protest is against the Rs114 per litre petrol and Rs100 per litre diesel levy.
- The march is part of a larger movement that has been ongoing for 27 days.
Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced a significant protest march towards Islamabad on September 20, aimed at opposing the government's petroleum levy.
Rehman stated that if the levy is not withdrawn before the march begins, the protest will enter its 'decisive phase' on the streets of Islamabad.
The announcement was made during a public gathering in Gujranwala, where Rehman also urged the 'Form-47 rulers' to provide immediate relief to the people.
The JI's sit-ins against the petroleum levy have been ongoing for 27 days, with caravans from across the country expected to converge on Islamabad.
Rehman criticized the government's handling of the levy, stating that Rs1,567 billion had been collected from the public under the levy.
He questioned why the government was imposing 'jagga tax' on citizens while basic healthcare and education remained inaccessible to millions.
The JI leader also criticized the dominance of bureaucracy, feudal landlords, and influential families, saying the working class was suffering.
Rehman alleged that around 6,500 cases of violence and exploitation against women had been registered in Punjab, but convictions had been secured in only a few.
He challenged Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to provide the Federal Board of Revenue with a complete account of her income and expenditure.
The JI chief also criticized the Sharif and Zardari families, alleging that they were among those responsible for the exploitation of poor people.
More than 40 per cent of Punjab's population was living in poverty, according to Rehman, who further criticized the government's policies.
If the petroleum levy is not abolished before the long march begins, the decision will be made on the streets of Islamabad.
Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, JI chief
