Key Takeaways
- Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) announces nationwide highway blockades and sit-ins on August 7.
- Protesters will stage sit-ins on roads connecting all districts, allowing only ambulances to pass.
- JI demands immediate abolition of petroleum levy and cancellation of expensive IPP agreements.
Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, has announced a nationwide highway blockade and sit-ins on August 7 as part of the second phase of JI’s anti-petroleum levy and anti-inflation campaign. The protest aims to demand immediate abolition of the petroleum levy, cancellation of costly Independent Power Producer (IPP) agreements, and measures to curb inflation and power outages.
Rehman stated that JI workers and supporters would stage sit-ins on roads connecting all districts across Pakistan, with only ambulances allowed to pass. He emphasized that highways will remain closed except for emergency vehicles, mobilizing public support through 20,000 corner meetings nationwide before the protest date.
The JI chief warned the government against using undemocratic tactics to suppress the protest movement, asserting that any such action would transform the anti-inflation campaign into a movement aimed at bringing down the government. He urged the government to immediately abolish the petroleum levy and scrap expensive IPP contracts, adding that if these measures were taken, the retail price of petrol would fall below Rs200 per litre.
Rehman also called on provincial governments to restore food prices to levels prevailing before the Iran-US conflict. He criticized the performance of provincial governments, particularly in Punjab, where poverty had increased by 41 percent over the past six years. He highlighted instances such as Maryam Nawaz selling 11,000 schools and purchasing an aircraft worth Rs11 billion.
Turning to broader governance issues, Rehman criticized lawmakers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for passing legislation granting themselves unlimited benefits. He described the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) as the establishment's “A-plus team,” urging Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to clarify government positions in Azad Kashmir.
Rehman expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in KP, particularly its southern districts, and Balochistan. He urged the government to pursue dialogue to resolve ongoing challenges, noting that JI was engaging various stakeholders on the Balochistan issue and hoped a grand Jirga would be convened soon.
Welcoming reports of negotiations between state institutions and the Joint Action Committee in Azad Kashmir, Rehman said the JI had consistently advocated for dialogue. However, he noted that the government had not responded to their initiatives. In response to a question, Rehman reiterated his call for public participation in the August 7 demonstrations, urging young people to bring their motorcycles onto the roads to strengthen the blockade.
The announcement of these protests comes as part of JI’s ongoing campaign against what they perceive as government policies that burden citizens and benefit only the ruling elite. The organization has been vocal about its opposition to the petroleum levy and other fiscal measures, emphasizing the need for immediate reforms.
The JI workers and supporters would stage sit-ins on roads connecting all districts across the country, adding that only ambulances would be allowed to pass.
Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami
He urged the government to immediately abolish the petroleum levy and scrap expensive IPP contracts, adding that if these measures were taken, the retail price of petrol would fall below Rs200 per litre.
Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman, Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami
