LAHORE, September 13: Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said on Sunday that the government’s Rs100 per litre petrol relief scheme would not end his party’s campaign against the petroleum levy, insisting that protests would continue until the levy is fully withdrawn.
Reacting to the relief announced for motorcycles, rickshaws and small cars, Hafiz Naeem claimed the government had been forced to offer the concession because of Jamaat-e-Islami’s ongoing agitation against fuel taxes and inflation.
He said the party would examine the details of the petrol relief scheme and issue a formal response later in the day, but made clear that its long march and sit-ins would continue regardless.
Protest to Continue Until Petroleum Levy Is Withdrawn
Hafiz Naeem said Jamaat-e-Islami’s campaign against the petroleum levy would remain in place until the charge was completely abolished.
“The prime minister’s scheme will not affect our struggle against the petroleum levy,” he said, adding that the party would continue both its sit-ins and preparations for the planned long march.
Jamaat-e-Islami says its nationwide protest campaign has entered its 29th day, with sit-ins and protest camps continuing in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Haripur, Swat and several other cities.
The party is also preparing for a long march to Islamabad on September 20.
Hafiz Naeem said the protests would expand if the government continued to delay negotiations, maintaining that the campaign would continue until what the party considers meaningful relief is provided to the public.
He is also scheduled to address gatherings in Batkhela and Timergara as part of the ongoing mobilisation.