Jamaat-e-Islami Protest Pushes Government to Rethink Petroleum Levy
JI leaders demand relief on petrol prices as talks continue in Islamabad
Jamaat-e-Islami – (Staff Report/Web Desk) – Jamaat-e-Islami protest against rising petrol prices has pushed the government to ask for more breathing room. JI Naib Emir Liaqat Baloch revealed on Thursday that officials requested a three-day pause before the party’s planned long march, hoping to settle the petroleum levy dispute by Monday.
Baloch shared these details after a fresh round of talks at Punjab House in Islamabad. He said his party simply wants fair treatment for ordinary people at the fuel pump.
According to Baloch, JI handed over six clear proposals to the government’s team. But instead of solid answers, he said bureaucrats only listed reasons why change felt hard. When pressed further, he admitted the government kept dodging the real question.
Away from the negotiating table, JI chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman reached out to two key allies. He spoke with JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. Naeem urged every opposition party to speak up against price hikes and everyday struggles faced by citizens.
Fazl backed the JI campaign fully, while Afridi praised the party’s peaceful approach and asked for real relief for the public.
This all builds on Baloch’s earlier remarks. Just days before, he claimed the government had already earned more from the petroleum levy than its own budget target allowed. He also set a firm deadline, warning that if the levy wasn’t removed, JI would announce its long march toward Islamabad.
Speaking at a sit-in outside Sindh Governor House, Baloch confirmed protests were running in 32 cities nationwide. He argued that global oil price swings don’t justify what he called an unfair tax burden on citizens.
He also pointed out a harsh reality. Whether someone rides a basic motorbike or drives a luxury car, they pay the same tax rate. A student or daily commuter, he said, ends up paying nearly Rs700 every day just in extra charges, adding up to around Rs23,000 a month.
With talks still ongoing and the deadline pushed to Monday, all eyes remain on whether the government will finally offer real relief.
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