Tarar warns against violent entry into Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Sunday warned that no group would be allowed to enter Islamabad through violent or disruptive means as Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) began its long march towards the federal capital.

Tarar said the government and local administration were responsible for maintaining law and order and ensuring that routine public movement was not affected by protests. He said clear directions were in place regarding road closures and disruption of traffic.

The minister added that government roads would remain accessible and protesters would not be permitted to enter the capital in a way that interfered with public movement.

The warning came as JI launched its planned long march, with supporters travelling towards Islamabad from different parts of the country by road and rail.

JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said caravans had started moving towards the capital, while workers in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other areas were being mobilised. He said the train contingent from Karachi had also begun its journey.

Hafiz Naeem said the campaign was aimed at highlighting the financial difficulties faced by ordinary Pakistanis. He linked the protest to rising petrol prices and other economic pressures affecting low- and middle-income households.

He also criticised what he described as an economic system benefiting powerful business groups. He alleged that influential interests connected with banks, oil companies, refineries and food industries were taking advantage of consumers.

The JI emir said the party had continued its sit-ins in different parts of the country and argued that political pressure could not be maintained through social media alone. He said the party would continue its street campaign to press for its demands.

The main demand behind the march is the withdrawal of the petroleum development levy. JI has said it will continue its protest until the levy is abolished.

The government and JI held several rounds of negotiations over the issue, but the talks ended without an agreement. Government representatives had asked JI to postpone the march because of security concerns, while the party decided to proceed with its planned mobilisation.

Hafiz Naeem has previously said JI supporters would avoid blocking roads during the march and would travel to Islamabad peacefully to demand relief for the public.

Meanwhile, Tarar highlighted the government’s Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme, which was introduced to provide targeted assistance amid higher fuel prices.

He said the scheme had been developed after global fuel prices increased because of regional tensions. According to the minister, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had personally monitored the programme and directed authorities to ensure its implementation.

The eligibility criteria were subsequently expanded. The age limit for motorcycles, rickshaws and Qingqi rickshaws was increased from 15 to 20 years, making vehicles registered from January 1, 2006, eligible for the scheme.

The government also removed the registration fee for SMS applications and scrapped the earlier five-litre limit attached to each fuel-relief token.

Motorcycle, Qingqi and rickshaw users can receive four tokens each month, with one token available every week. Each token provides Rs500 in fuel relief.

Vehicles with engines of up to 800cc are also covered. Their users can receive a Rs100-per-litre discount on up to 10 litres of petrol every 10 days, with three tokens available each month.

The scheme is available at petrol stations across the country, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority has issued directions for its implementation.

Tarar said more than 2.2 million people had registered for the programme, with the overwhelming majority being motorcycle, Qingqi and rickshaw users. More than 1.9 million fuel tokens had been issued, including around 1.8 million to motorcycle, Qingqi and rickshaw users.

The government has also removed the vehicle ownership requirement for motorcycles, Qingqi rickshaws and rickshaws so that people who actually use the vehicles can benefit from the relief.

Tarar said registration did not require a smartphone and could be completed through SMS by providing the required identification and vehicle information.

A separate monitoring system has also been established to track registrations and fuel-token redemptions in real time. Petrol stations and oil marketing companies have been connected to the system, while the Ministry of Information Technology has established monitoring facilities.

The minister said complaints were being addressed and awareness material had been placed at fuel stations to guide beneficiaries. He added that federal and provincial authorities were coordinating to ensure smooth implementation.

JI, however, has maintained that the fuel relief package does not meet its primary demand for the abolition of the petroleum levy. The party has therefore continued its march towards Islamabad.