KARACHI (Dunya News) – The Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan (JI) Chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman has announced simultaneous protests and sit-ins in 150 cities across the country today (Friday) against the petroleum levy and rising public concerns.
Addressing a gathering in Karachi, Hafiz Naeem said the government must abolish the petroleum levy, warning that the party would otherwise march towards Islamabad.
He said Jamaat-e-Islami was waging a major struggle to bring about systemic change in the country, adding that its objective was not merely political point-scoring but serving the people.
The party chief said JI’s competition was not with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), but in terms of development and public service in its nine towns.
He further claimed that no political party in Pakistan was seriously addressing public issues.
Hafiz Naeem said Jamaat-e-Islami had launched a campaign against the petroleum levy to raise public awareness, adding that people across the country were now familiar with the issue.
On Aug 16, the JI announced sit-ins in all the provincial capitals of Pakistan against the petroleum levy and had called for a nationwide strike on Sept 3.
On Sept 20, the party launched a protest march towards Islamabad, warning that if the government failed to abolish the petroleum levy, the protest could turn into one to oust the government.
However, on Sept 22, the JI emir said his party, whose convoy had reached Multan, was postponing its long march at the request of PM Shehbaz, pending a meeting with him.