KARACHI – Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has announced that the party will not end its ongoing sit-ins until the government abolishes the petroleum levy.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Hafiz Naeem said the containers placed in Islamabad would not be able to stop the party’s planned march. He said the JI had plans A, B and C in place and urged the government not to create unrest or disrupt the routine lives of citizens in the capital.
He also questioned the use of a Punjab government aircraft for private purposes, calling for an audit to determine how and why the aircraft was purchased and how it was being used.
Hafiz Naeem criticised the high price of diesel and questioned whether the government had taken steps to reduce transport fares in line with fuel prices. He also asked what relief had been provided to passengers using Pakistan Railways, saying any form of lockdown was unacceptable.
The JI emir said another round of talks with the government was scheduled for 6pm. He said the government had argued that reducing the petroleum levy would affect its revenue, while the JI had already presented a comprehensive formula for reducing petroleum prices.
“Instead of responding to our proposal, the government is only giving presentations,” he said.
Hafiz Naeem said he had instructed his negotiating team to end the talks if the government continued to delay the matter.
He reiterated the JI’s plan for a march towards Islamabad on September 20, saying the party would continue its campaign until its demands were addressed.
He also said the sit-ins would not be called off unless the petroleum levy was abolished.
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