LOWER DIR: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa North chief and former senior provincial minister Inayatullah Khan has urged the public, traders and transporters to participate in the nationwide strike scheduled for September 3, criticizing the government’s taxation policies and rising inflation.
Speaking at a press conference at Ahya-ul-Uloom in Balambat, the district headquarters of Lower Dir, Inayatullah Khan described the petroleum levy as a form of “extortion” and called for its immediate withdrawal.
JI Leader Criticizes Petroleum Levy
Inayatullah Khan said repeated increases in fuel prices and the cost of essential commodities had placed significant financial pressure on low-income households.
He criticized the government’s economic policies, alleging that they had increased the financial burden on ordinary citizens and contributed to worsening economic difficulties.
The JI leader appealed to traders, transporters and members of the public to participate in the September 3 strike, saying the protest would convey opposition to what he described as anti-people economic measures.
Participants at the press conference also raised slogans calling for the withdrawal of the petroleum levy and supporting the nationwide strike.
Campaign Underway Across KP
The press conference was attended by JI Lower Dir chief Maulana Asadullah, district general secretary Mohammad Shoaib, Pakistan Business Forum provincial president and Chakdara traders’ leader Khawaja Faizul Ghafoor, district information secretary Malik Sher Bahadar and other party leaders and workers.
Inayatullah said the event was part of JI’s broader campaign against inflation and the petroleum levy. He added that similar awareness and mobilization activities were being conducted in other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said he had already addressed press conferences in Swat and other districts to seek support for the September 3 strike.