Lahore/Karachi/Peshawar – Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Sunday launched the second phase of its nationwide protest campaign, staging sit-ins outside the Chief Minister’s House in Lahore and governors’ houses in Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta against the petroleum levy, rising fuel prices, inflation and what it described as poor governance.
The latest protests followed demonstrations at hundreds of locations earlier this month. The JI had initially announced the nationwide protest for August 9 but postponed it to August 16 because of Independence Day celebrations.
In Lahore, JI workers marched from Masjid-i-Shuhada along The Mall and staged a sit-in at Faisal Chowk near the Chief Minister’s House. The protest, led by JI Lahore Emir Ziauddin Ansari Advocate, disrupted traffic between Regal Chowk and Faisal Chowk.
JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman also addressed the protesters, demanding that petrol prices be reduced to Rs225 per litre and the petroleum levy withdrawn.
Criticising the government’s taxation policy, Hafiz Naeem described the petroleum levy as an “extortion tax” and questioned the tax contribution of landlords and feudal elements, particularly on agricultural income. He said the salaried class was bearing a disproportionate share of the tax burden, while ordinary citizens continued to struggle with inflation and high fuel prices.
Hafiz Naeem said the JI’s protest was not directed against any particular political party but against what he termed injustice towards ordinary citizens. He said the party wanted negotiations with the government but would not accept talks unless its demand regarding the petroleum levy was addressed. Rejecting the government committee formed to engage with the JI, he warned that the protest movement would be expanded to streets and neighbourhoods across the country.
“We are ready for a prolonged sit-in,” he said, warning that any attempt to obstruct the protests could turn the movement into a campaign aimed at bringing down the government.
