JI expands nationwide protest over fuel levy and inflation

ISLAMABAD: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) held protest sit-ins in several major cities on Monday for the second consecutive day, intensifying its campaign against high petroleum levies, rising inflation and increased utility bills.

The protests were organised in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and other cities across the country. The party said its demonstrations would continue until the government addresses its demands.

Addressing a sit-in in Lahore, JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman described the protests as the beginning of a broader nationwide movement. He said the party had prepared a strategy to expand the campaign and expressed satisfaction with the participation in different parts of the country.

JI leaders criticised the government over the growing financial burden on ordinary citizens. They argued that higher fuel-related charges have contributed to increased prices of essential goods and made household expenses more difficult to manage.

In Karachi, a JI demonstration was held outside the Governor House. Party leaders accused the government of relying excessively on petroleum levies and taxes to generate revenue.

JI Karachi women wing leader Javed Fahim called on the government either to withdraw what she described as unnecessary financial burdens or face stronger public resistance. She warned that the party could expand its sit-ins to major roads across Karachi if its demands were not accepted.

JI Karachi Emir Monem Zafar Khan said the party’s demands included a reduction in fuel prices and a forensic audit of independent power producers (IPPs).

He said controlling inflation should be among the government’s top priorities and argued that ordinary citizens were bearing the impact of rising fuel costs, electricity bills and prices of daily-use commodities.

The protests come after the government recently increased the petroleum levy on diesel by Rs1 per litre, taking it to Rs77.28. The levy on petrol remained at Rs80 per litre, while the levy on kerosene was unchanged at Rs20.36 per litre.

JI leaders said they would continue mobilising supporters across the country and would consider further expanding the protest movement if their demands were not met.