The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) has reaffirmed its decision to proceed with a planned march towards Islamabad, demanding the abolition of the petroleum levy and greater relief for consumers.
The government currently imposes significant taxes and duties on petroleum products, including around Rs114 per litre on petrol and Rs100 per litre on diesel.
The JI has been holding sit-ins in Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi and other cities since August 16 against the petroleum levy.
The party has said it will not call off the Islamabad march unless the government takes concrete steps towards abolishing the levy. It has also called for peaceful demonstrations and urged authorities not to take action against protesters.
A public rally is scheduled to be held in Karachi before protest caravans leave for Islamabad on September 20.
The party has demanded a clear government proposal on the abolition of the petroleum levy and has rejected the existing fuel relief package as insufficient.
Under the current relief scheme, eligible motorcycles, rickshaws, Qingqi rickshaws and vehicles with engines of up to 800cc are entitled to a Rs100-per-litre subsidy, subject to specified limits.
The JI has argued that fuel relief should be treated as a public right and has called for measures to reduce the impact of fuel prices on essential commodities.
The party has also criticised government spending and called for reductions in official expenditure, while demanding stronger measures against corruption.
The government has meanwhile reintroduced austerity measures in response to economic pressures linked to renewed tensions in the Middle East. The measures include a 50% reduction in fuel allocations for official vehicles for three months.
The JI’s protest campaign has continued for more than a month, with sit-ins and demonstrations being held in cities across the country.
The party says the number of sit-ins is being gradually reduced as part of preparations for
