JI plans 510 sit-ins over Pakistan petroleum levy
LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Thursday announced peaceful sit-ins against the petroleum levy at 510 locations across the country on Friday, warning that the protests would transform into a movement to ov
Image credit: Photo by Zülfü Demir📸 on Pexels
Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan has announced a nationwide wave of peaceful sit-ins against the petroleum levy, with protests planned at 510 locations across the country. The move adds fresh pressure on the government as debate intensifies over fuel costs and inflation in Pakistan.
Speaking at a protest rally in Lahore, JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said the demonstrations would begin on Friday and that major roads connecting districts would be blocked from 4pm onward. He said ambulances would be allowed through, framing the protest as peaceful and orderly.
The announcement came during a rally organised by the JI Women’s Wing on Wahdat Road in Lahore, where party leaders gathered to criticise rising petroleum prices and broader inflation. Dawn reported that Rehman warned the protests could expand further if authorities tried to stop them.
He said the campaign would turn into an anti-government movement if the sit-ins were obstructed. Rehman also urged the administration to respond to public demands and warned that the government would be responsible for any consequences if it failed to do so.
According to his remarks, the party wants petrol prices reduced to Rs225 per litre. He described the petroleum levy as a burden on ordinary citizens and accused the government of collecting heavy taxes on fuel while continuing expensive official spending.
Rehman also argued that fuel prices had been raised when global market conditions were used as justification during regional tensions, but that the relief had not been passed on after international crude oil prices fell. He alleged that the government had collected Rs8 trillion through the petroleum levy without using it to improve refineries or petroleum infrastructure.
Alongside Rehman, JI Lahore Emir Advocate Ziauddin Ansari, Women’s Wing President Dr Humaira Tariq, Samiha Raheel Qazi, Samina Saeed and Uzma Imran addressed the gathering, according to Dawn.
The planned sit-ins are the latest sign of political pressure over rising living costs, especially fuel prices, which remain a major public concern. With the party setting out a protest network across Pakistan, the government now faces a direct challenge from one of the country’s major religio-political organisations.
The situation will be closely watched on Friday as the Punjab capital and other districts prepare for the announced demonstrations.
FAQ
What is Jamaat-i-Islami protesting?
The party says it is protesting the petroleum levy and rising fuel prices.
How many sit-ins has JI announced?
JI says peaceful sit-ins are planned at 510 locations nationwide.
When are the protests expected to begin?
The party says the sit-ins will start on Friday, with road blockades planned from 4pm onward.
Comments
No approved comments yet.
