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

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. 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 prices have skyrocketed due to conflicts in the Middle East since March. A day earlier, the party said 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”. Addressing a press conference on Monday, Rehman said that JI had been patient and acted responsibly, considering the state of international affairs.

He added, “Now, the responsible thing to do is for us to be aggressive. ” “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. ” He suggested that the government accept the issues and “handle” them beforehand by providing relief to the people of Pakistan. Rehman said his party remained prepared to march towards Islamabad and recalled that federal ministers had contacted the party repeatedly. “Liaquat Baloch Sahib has told them that nothing will come out of talks until something tangible is given,” he said. 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”. The JI chief reiterated that his party will continue to stand by the demand. “We have told them the levy has nothing do with petrol’s price,” he said. Rehman…