JI Protest Petrol Price Hike Across Four Cities

JI – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – Jamaat-e-Islami launched a fresh wave of protests this past Sunday. The JI protest petrol price movement spread across four major cities at once. Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta all saw large sit-ins on the same day.

The party is angry about the petroleum levy. It also wants the government to stop raising fuel prices. Rising inflation has added more fuel to the anger among workers and supporters.

This is not a one-time event. It is the next stage in a bigger nationwide plan. Earlier this month, JI had already staged rallies at hundreds of spots across the country.

A Closer Look At The Lahore Sit-In

In Lahore, party workers gathered at Faisal Chowk on Mall Road. They marched from other parts of the city before settling near the Chief Minister’s House.

Punjab JI chief Javed Qasuri joined the crowd. Other senior leaders stood beside him. JI Amir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman also arrived to address the workers directly.

Hafiz Naeem spoke strongly against the government’s fuel policy. He said the leadership was squeezing common people through higher prices and heavier taxes.

جماعت اسلامی کے ہزاروں کارکنان نے وزیر اعلیٰ ہاؤس پنجاب کا گھیراؤ کرلیا#JIDharnaAgainstBhattaLevy pic.twitter.com/PrGhsxfUz7

— Jamaat e Islami Pakistan (@JIPOfficial) August 16, 2026

He called the petroleum levy an unfair burden. He used harsh words like “extortion tax” to describe it. He also asked why big landlords tied to the ruling party rarely pay tax on farmland.

His main demand was simple. He wants petrol brought down to Rs225 per litre. He repeated this figure clearly for the crowd to hear.

He also spoke about the feudal system in Pakistan. He said poor farmers keep suffering while a small group holds all the power. He blamed this setup for many of the country’s economic problems.

Hafiz Naeem pointed out something else too. Salaried workers alone paid nearly Rs700 billion in taxes. He questioned why this group carries such a heavy share of the load.

What Happened In Karachi

Karachi saw its own large gathering. Workers came from different neighborhoods and walked toward the Governor House.

JI Karachi chief Munim Zafar led the march. Once the group reached Governor House, they set up a sit-in right outside the gates.

Police stood watch around the area. Officials confirmed that the route from Fawara Chowk toward the Press Club stayed open for regular traffic.

Speaking from a truck turned into a makeshift stage, Munim Zafar had a warning for Sindh authorities. He said force should never be used against peaceful protesters.

He made it clear that any violence would fall on the shoulders of the government. He also said the sit-in would keep going no matter what.

He explained how the fuel levy hits students and young people the hardest. Many of them, he said, are effectively paying around Rs130 per litre just in levy charges alone.

He described the protest as a voice for every ordinary citizen. He said it represents students, workers and everyday families struggling with rising costs.

He also brought up the Prime Minister’s recent Karachi visit. He said Shehbaz Sharif came with a large convoy but still failed to fix the city’s long-running water crisis.

Zafar promised that JI would keep fighting for Karachi residents. He called the current system unjust and said the party has no plans to back down.

Peshawar And Quetta Join In

Peshawar also felt the impact of the protest. Workers set up a sit-in near the Governor House there.

This blocked the road between Saddar and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Chowk. JI Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch was expected to speak to the crowd during the demonstration.

Quetta held its own sit-in on the same day. This made it four separate protests happening at the same time across four provinces.

JI leadership had already announced this plan in advance. Governor houses in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were all named as protest sites, along with the Punjab CM’s residence.

Earlier Warnings From The Party

A few days before the sit-ins, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman spoke to reporters in Peshawar. He said the government leans on the petroleum levy simply to raise money.

He argued that the burden always lands on regular citizens instead of those who can actually afford it.

The party has been asking for fuel relief for weeks now. It has also criticized what it calls excessive spending and special privileges enjoyed by the ruling class.

A Growing Nationwide Campaign

This round of protests followed an even bigger push last week. JI held rallies, sit-ins and road blockades at hundreds of locations nationwide.

The goal each time stays the same. The party wants to pressure Islamabad into giving people real relief from inflation and fuel costs.

With prices still climbing and public frustration growing, JI shows no sign of slowing its campaign. More demonstrations could follow in the coming weeks if demands are not met.