MULTAN, Tuesday, September 22, 2026: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Tuesday temporarily halted its Islamabad-bound long march in Multan following a request from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, but vowed to continue its protest movement until the government addresses its demands, including relief from the petroleum levy.
JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced the decision at a press conference in Multan after consultations within the party.
He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had telephoned him and requested that the march be postponed until the premier returned to Pakistan and could meet the JI leadership.
Hafiz Naeem said the prime minister had assured him that talks would be held on providing further relief to the public after his return.
The JI chief, however, made clear that the party was neither withdrawing from its protest campaign nor abandoning the long march.
“We are not withdrawing from our protest, nor are we withdrawing from the long march,” Hafiz Naeem said, explaining that the party was giving the government an opportunity to hold talks.
He said JI workers would remain mobilised and the march would stay in Multan until talks with the prime minister take place.
According to Hafiz Naeem, the party’s objective was not confrontation or unrest but securing economic relief for people struggling with inflation and high fuel costs.
He said JI would seek written assurances from the government during negotiations and described the upcoming talks as a crucial opportunity for the government to address the party’s demands.
The JI chief reiterated his demand for the withdrawal of the petroleum levy, which has been at the centre of the party’s protest campaign.
Hafiz Naeem said the party had previously presented proposals to the government for reducing petrol prices, but officials had cited Pakistan’s commitments under the International Monetary Fund programme as a constraint on reducing the levy.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif contacted Hafiz Naeem and asked JI to postpone its planned march towards Islamabad.
The prime minister said the government was providing petroleum-related relief to economically vulnerable and middle-income households and would continue efforts to provide as much relief as possible.
Both leaders agreed to meet following the prime minister’s return to Pakistan and continue consultations over the issue.
JI launched its march from Karachi on September 20 as part of its campaign against the petroleum levy and rising living costs. The caravan travelled through Sindh before reaching Multan, from where it had been scheduled to continue towards Lahore and ultimately Islamabad.
The decision means the march has been paused rather than called off, with its next move now dependent on the outcome of talks between the government and Jamaat-e-Islami.