Hafiz Naeem announces nationwide sit-ins against petroleum levy from Oct 23

(Dunya News) - Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced sit-ins at 150 locations across Pakistan from Friday, October 23, to protest against the petroleum levy.

Addressing a ceremony at Abu Turab Government School in Karachi’s Gulberg Town, Hafiz Naeem criticised government spending priorities, saying the Sindh budget was benefiting a limited group of people rather than serving the broader public.

He also criticised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz over the purchase of an aircraft worth Rs11 billion, saying that the development of the country was not a priority for politicians.

The JI chief said development work was progressing in areas where his party’s town representatives were in charge. He described projects undertaken in nine Karachi towns as a potential game changer, adding that the local representatives were working beyond their official powers.

Hafiz Naeem said town administrations lacked the authority to collect garbage, while half of Karachi’s population was deprived of drinking water. He vowed that his party would continue its struggle for greater powers for local governments.

He also highlighted problems with education and transport at the University of Karachi, announcing that nine-point buses would be handed over to the university administration on Thursday.

Speaking about education reforms, Hafiz Naeem congratulated students at Abu Turab School and said Jamaat-e-Islami was introducing a modern education system in government schools. He added that enrolment was increasing following the renovation of schools.

He said Gulberg Town would issue 10,000 education cards and that the initiative would later be introduced across Karachi.

The JI chief further claimed that 41,000 schools in Sindh lacked basic facilities and that 7.8 million children were out of school. He said the figures raised questions about the Sindh government’s performance over the past 18 years.