Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) has threatened a JI Islamabad march in mid-November if Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif fails to abolish the petroleum levy and provide relief to the public. JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman issued the warning during a press conference on Monday. He said the party had remained patient but was now prepared to intensify its protest campaign.
The party has demanded the removal of petroleum levies for more than two months. According to the report, the levy stands at Rs114 per litre on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel. JI argues that abolishing these charges would help ease the financial pressure on consumers as fuel prices have risen amid conflicts in the Middle East.
Rehman said the party had acted responsibly while considering the international situation. However, he warned that the government must take practical steps to address public concerns. He urged the prime minister to provide relief before the planned march, adding that JI would move towards Islamabad with full force if its demands remained unmet.
The warning came after government representatives reportedly contacted JI Vice Emir Liaquat Baloch to discuss the issue. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Rana Sanaullah were among those who reportedly reached out. The two sides were expected to arrange a meeting between Rehman and Shehbaz within the next two days.
Rehman said JI was willing to attend talks but did not want a meeting without concrete results. He maintained that the petroleum levy was separate from international petrol prices and insisted that the government should address the party’s demands. He also acknowledged that officials had assured JI they would examine possible measures before the proposed meeting.
The JI emir criticised the government’s September relief package, saying it did not cover all motorcyclists, car owners and public transport users. Under the announced scheme, eligible two- and three-wheeler owners could receive Rs100 per litre in relief on up to 20 litres monthly. Owners of vehicles up to 800cc could receive the same relief on up to 30 litres. Rehman also argued that rising diesel costs continued to affect grocery and other essential prices.
JI has organised protests and sit-ins in several cities over the petroleum levy in recent months. The party postponed its September march after Shehbaz reportedly assured it of a meeting. However, JI later complained that the government had not followed up. Rehman reiterated that the party would continue its campaign, leaving the possibility of a mid-November march open if negotiations fail to produce tangible relief.
