JI Chief Slams Petroleum Levy, Says Dealers Get Undue Margin

JI – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has renewed his attack on the government’s petroleum levy, saying it has become a heavy burden on ordinary citizens. Speaking at a sit-in in Lahore on Monday, he accused oil companies of pocketing unfair profit margins on petrol prices.

Naeem addressed a large crowd gathered at Faisal Chowk on Mall Road. He made it clear that if the government wants talks with his party, those talks must focus on ending the petroleum levy altogether.

He pointed out that common people are already struggling to make ends meet, while government officials continue to enjoy growing perks and privileges. According to him, this gap between rulers and citizens is only getting wider.

The sit-ins organised by JI in Lahore, Peshawar, and Karachi have now stretched into their ninth day. Naeem said more people are joining the protests every day, including a rising number of women taking part.

He was firm that this movement is not driven by pride or stubbornness. Instead, he said, the goal is simple: bring real relief to struggling families across the country.

Looking ahead, Naeem announced a nationwide shutter-down strike on 13 Rabi-ul-Awwal. He also revealed plans for a bigger countrywide strike in the first week of September, signalling that the pressure campaign will only grow.

He warned the government against trying to break up the sit-ins by force. Doing so, he said, would trigger protests on a much larger scale across Pakistan.

Naeem also took aim at government spending habits, calling for an end to lavish expenses and the use of expensive official vehicles by rulers.

He further claimed that the petroleum levy is being collected even from people who should not be paying it at all, calling the practice deeply unfair.

Touching on another issue, he blamed the government’s decision to allow wheat exports for pushing up wheat prices at home.

JI has also planned public rallies in Faisalabad on August 28 and in Rawalpindi on August 30 to keep the momentum going.

Naeem closed by saying his party has no interest in reaching power through backdoor deals. Instead, he said, JI wants to bring change through genuine public support.