LAHORE: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan has announced simultaneous sit-ins across all four provinces from August 16 after its nationwide protest drive on August 7 failed to secure any relief from the government on petroleum levy.
A special meeting of the central leadership was held under the chairmanship of Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman to review the protest movement and decide the future course of action.
It was decided in the meeting that in view of Independence Day celebrations, which will be celebrated in a grand manner, the earlier announced phase of sit-ins from August 9 will now be launched from August 16.
Addressing the meeting, Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman announced that sit-ins will be held simultaneously across the country on August 16.
A sit-in with lakhs of workers will be staged outside the Chief Minister’s House in Lahore, while similar protests will be held outside the Governor’s Houses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Balochistan.
“The rulers will have to stop oppression and tyranny. They will be forced to backtrack on their anti-people decisions through sit-ins,” he said.
Referring to previous agitation, Hafiz Naeem said that organized and peaceful demonstrations were held at 510 designated points across the country at 4 p.m. on August 7. Workers and supporters staged sit-ins on major roads, with only ambulances allowed to pass, to demand reduction of petrol price to Rs. 225 per litre and abolition of Rs. 125 per litre petroleum levy.
The protests, including a major demonstration by Halqa Khawateen on Wahdat Road in Lahore, were projected by the party as the voice of inflation-hit people, particularly women forced to sell jewelry to run households.
However, despite claims of millions participating, the day-long road closures ended without any announcement or assurance from the government, and the levy and petroleum prices remain unchanged.
Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman said Jamaat-e-Islami has also consistently raised its voice against the agreements with IPPs and demanded that the rulers accept its demands in the public interest.
On foreign affairs, the JI Ameer welcomed the defense agreement between Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, saying it will end dependence on enemies. He suggested that Qatar, Bangladesh, Iran, Malaysia and Indonesia should also be included in the agreement.
“If all Islamic countries join this agreement, a strong Islamic bloc can be formed,” he added.
