JI warns of nationwide shutdown, Islamabad march over petroleum levy

Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) has stepped up pressure on the government to scrap the petroleum levy, with party Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman warning of a nationwide shutdown and a march on Islamabad if the demand is not accepted.

Rehman said the party would announce the date of its nationwide strike on 13th Rabi-ul-Awwal, while the current protest campaign would continue during Eid Miladun Nabi.

Speaking at the JI protest camp outside the Punjab chief minister’s House in Lahore, he said demonstrations against the levy continued for 10 days and were spreading to different parts of the country.

The JI chief accused the government of imposing an unfair burden on citizens through fuel prices and taxes, saying ordinary people were struggling to meet rising transport and household costs.

He called for the immediate withdrawal of the petroleum levy and other taxes on fuel, arguing that commuters, students, workers and motorcyclists were among those worst affected.

Rehman also demanded that the price of roti be brought down to Rs10. He criticised the government’s handling of fuel prices during the ongoing war, alleging that the authorities had used the situation to increase revenue rather than provide relief to the public.