Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Tuesday announced that the party would hold its Islamabad long march in mid-November despite the government seeking another seven to 10 days to address its demand for abolishing the petroleum levy.
Speaking after meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, he said JI would continue preparations and launch a nationwide mobilisation campaign while keeping negotiations with the government open.
Hafiz Naeem said the two sides agreed on providing greater relief on petroleum products but differed over its implementation.
While the government favoured phased relief, JI was demanding the immediate abolition of the levy and a reduction in petrol prices.
The JI chief said the levy disproportionately burdened middle- and lower-income groups, adding that the government should announce a clear relief plan before the march.
He warned that JI could intensify its protests, including staging a sit-in, if its demands remained unmet. He also defended negotiations with the government, saying dialogue was necessary regardless of who held power.
