Govt, JI talks fail to break deadlock

Talks between the federal government and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) ended without an agreement on Saturday, as the government asked the party to postpone its planned long march citing security concerns.

The fifth round of negotiations was held in Lahore between government representatives and a JI delegation led by Deputy Emir Liaquat Baloch. Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah and Punjab Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique represented the government.

During the meeting, government officials urged the JI to delay its planned protest movement because of prevailing security threats. However, Liaquat Baloch maintained that the march would go ahead unless the government withdrew the petroleum levy imposed on consumers.

The JI has been holding sit-ins and demonstrations in several cities since August 16 against the levy and the overall burden of fuel prices. The party has rejected the government’s recently announced fuel relief package, arguing that it does not adequately address public concerns.

Government representatives assured the JI that additional relief measures would soon be announced for the public. They also highlighted economic pressures and said an International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation was expected to visit Pakistan.

Baloch, however, said the government needed to take practical measures to address the party’s demands. He warned that the JI would continue with its protest campaign if meaningful steps were not taken.

According to the JI’s announced schedule, protest caravans are expected to leave Karachi on Sunday and head towards Islamabad under the leadership of JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman.

Earlier, Rehman said the party would not cancel the long march unless the petroleum levy was abolished. He called on the government to present a concrete proposal addressing the party’s demands.

The JI chief said the party would keep its protest peaceful and urged authorities not to obstruct demonstrators. He also said the movement had expanded across the country, with demonstrations held in dozens of cities.

The government, meanwhile, has indicated that it wants to avoid disruptions to traffic and routine activities in Islamabad. Authorities are also considering the implications of recent court directions concerning restrictions on movement and public gatherings.

Rehman criticised the government’s economic policies, calling for lower interest rates and questioning the autonomy of the State Bank of Pakistan. He also accused the authorities of continuing unnecessary official spending while asking citizens to bear the impact of higher prices.

He called for greater action against corruption and criticised government expenditure on official travel and facilities. Rehman also raised concerns about wheat and sugar prices, alleged influence of powerful groups in the sectors and questioned payments to independent power producers.

The JI leader further claimed that the party’s proposed fiscal reforms could help the government save trillions of rupees. He said the protest campaign would continue until the government provided concrete measures for economic relief.