Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has intensified its protest campaign against the petroleum levy, rising electricity prices and inflation, announcing a new schedule for sit-ins at various locations across Islamabad. The party has also decided to launch evening-to-late-night protests in the federal capital, following similar demonstrations already under way in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.
According to JI Islamabad, sit-ins will be held in phases at Ghauri Town, Karachi Company, G-7/3, B-17, PWD, Bhara Kahu, Jhangi Syedan and Lehtrar Road.
A party spokesperson said the protests would begin every evening and continue until late at night. The objective is to mobilize the public, increase pressure on the government to provide economic relief and demand the abolition of taxes such as the petroleum levy.
Meanwhile, addressing an important press conference in Lahore, JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced what he described as the next and toughest phase of the protest movement.
He said the party would not negotiate over ending the sit-ins, but would only discuss how the “extortion-like” petroleum levy could be abolished.
He further alleged that “mafias” had previously made profits by importing sugar and would now profit from its exports. He also claimed that flour prices had risen significantly over the past year.
Hafiz Naeem announced that protest camps would be established in all districts across the country. He said that after 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal, a nationwide shutter-down and wheel-jam strike would be observed on 13 Rabi-ul-Awwal.
He warned that if the government failed to provide relief to the public and did not practically accept the party’s demands, Jamaat-e-Islami would launch a major long march towards Islamabad following the nationwide strike.
