JI threatens march to Islamabad in mid-November if petroleum levy not abolished

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Monday warned that the party would march to Islamabad in mid-November if Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif did not abolish the petroleum levy.</p> <p>The JI has been demanding for over two months that the Centre abolish levies, including Rs114 per litre on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel, as the total <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2038809"><u>prices</u></a> have <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1987901"><u>skyrocketed</u></a> due to conflicts in the Middle East since March.</p> <p>A day earlier, the party <a rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="link--external" href="https://x.com/JIPOfficial/status/2114401703491776715">said </a>Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Special Assistant to PM Rana Sanaullah contacted JI Vice Emir Liaquat Baloch and it was decided that a meeting between the JI chief and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be held within the “next two days”.</p> <p>Addressing a press conference on Monday, Rehman said that JI had been patient and acted responsibly, considering the state of international affairs.</p> <p>He added, “Now, the responsible thing to do is for us to be aggressive.”</p> <p>“If the prime minister does not provide relief or abolish the petroleum levy, if he doesn’t take any steps, then in mid-November we will, with full force, march to Islamabad.”</p> <p>He suggested that the government accept the issues and “handle” them beforehand by providing relief to the people of Pakistan.</p> <p>Rehman said his party remained prepared to march towards Islamabad and recalled that federal ministers had contacted the party repeatedly.</p> <p>“Liaquat Baloch Sahib has told them that nothing will come out of talks until something tangible is given,” he said.</p> <p>However, Rehman acknowledged that the government had assured JI of “doing working” on the issue and “decide what can be achieved in the meeting with the prime minister”.</p> <p>The JI chief reiterated that his party will continue to stand by the demand.</p> <p>“We have told them the levy has nothing do with petrol’s price,” he said.</p> <p>Rehman wondered what could “federal ministers possibly tell prime minister about the issue” considering that the party had already submitted its demands.</p> <p>“We have never said no to a meeting but I want to say this clearly to the government that we don’t want a meeting so we can make an event out of it,” he said.</p> <p>The JI leader also criticised the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2029634">relief package</a> announced by the government in September, claiming that it was brought about as a result of JI’s protests in 42 cities.</p> <p>The “relief scheme” was announced for users of motorcycles, autos and vehicles of up to 800cc to “alleviate the burden” of rising global oil prices.</p> <p>Under the scheme, those having two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles would get a relief of Rs100 per litre on a monthly quota of 20 litres, while those owning small vehicles of up to 800cc would get a relief of Rs100 per litre for a monthly quota of 30 litres.</p> <p>Rehman on Monday said that the scheme was not enough for those, claiming that it did not cover various other motorcyclists, car owners or public transport.</p> <p>He further said the package did not address soaring prices of groceries and goods due to rising diesel costs.</p> <p>“Large political parties don’t even talk about nation’s genuine issues,” he claimed, adding that only JI had highlighted the concerns.</p> <p>Last week, JI said it would hold talks with the government regarding its demand to abolish the petroleum levy and on further high-level contacts between them.</p> <p>According to the statement, despite the planned talks, JI’s Baloch reiterated his party’s <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2038779"><u>call</u></a> for countrywide protests.</p> <p>On Aug 16, the JI <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2021518/ji-announces-aug-16-sit-ins-in-provincial-capitals-to-protest-petroleum-levy"><u>announced</u></a> sit-ins in all the provincial capitals of Pakistan against the petroleum levy and had called for a <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2025554"><u>nationwide strike</u></a> on Sept 3.</p> <p>However, when the day arrived, the two sides agreed to <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2027209"><u>form committees</u></a> to recommend measures to reduce the levies.</p> <p>On Sept 20, the party launched a <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2031346"><u>protest march</u></a> towards Islamabad, warning that if the government failed to abolish the petroleum levy, the protest could turn into one to oust the government.</p> <p>On Sept 22, the JI emir said his party, whose convoy had reached Multan, was <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2031832"><u>postponing</u></a> its long march at the request of PM Shehbaz, who had assured the other side of a meeting to discuss the matters.</p> <p>However, in a <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/2038779"><u>press release</u></a> issued last week, JI alleged that the government had made no further contact regarding the planned meeting between Rehman and PM Shehbaz.</p> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.